History of Grant County, Wisconsin, Part 52

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 1044

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347

HISTORY OF THE LEAD REGION.

" Brick Clay .-- Clay suitable for making brick is found in many parts of the lead region, Mineral Point being one of the important localities. The clay sought is usually of a grayish yellow color which becomes red on burning. It appears to have been formed in the same man- ner as other portions of the soil, as already described. The origin of the clay of which the brick are made is a matter of some doubt. It has not exactly the appearance of a drift clay, and if not, its situation indicates that it must have undergone some subsequent re-arrangement."

THE LEAD REGION DESCRIBED. FROM MOSES STRONG'S REPORT.

Boundaries and Area .- In Wisconsin, the lead region may be said to be bounded on the north by the northern outcrop of the Galena limestone, running parallel to the main water-shcd from the Mississippi to the Blue Mounds, as already described ; on the west by the Mississippi River ; on the south by the State line ; on the east by Sugar River. These limits include all of the lead region which has ever been productive, as well as much that has never as yet proved so. The area thus included. which has been, or may hereafter become, productive, is necessarily that of the Galena limestone, which is about 1,776 square miles.

Explanation of Mining Terms .- For the enlightenment of the readers who are unfamiliar with mining terms, the following short explanation of expressions, most frequently used in the lead region, is offered.

Range .- This is probably the most indefinite term in use, and, at the same time, one which is universally applied. First. A range denotes a single, or several, parallel crevices, containing useful ores or minerals ; vertical, or approximately so ; seldom more than a few yards apart ; sometimes, but not necessarily, connected by quartering crevices. Its length may vary from a few hundred feet to a quarter of a mile or more ; in short, so far as the crevice or crevices have been connectedly traced, or there is a reasonable probability of such connection. Thus, different parts of the same range often have different names given them before the connection between them is proved. This is a fruitful source of confusion. Second. The term range is also applied to horizontal bodies of ore, of which there may be one, or several, superimposed upon one another ; sometimes, but not necessarily, separated by unproductive layers of rock, limited in length in the same way as a vertical range.

Crevice .- This term denotes a fissure in the rock, vertical or nearly so, but a few inches in width, of indefinite length, which may or may not be filled with ores or minerals. When a crevice becomes very small, less than an inch in width, it is called a seam.

Vein is a term little used; it denotes the filling of ore and accompanying minerals, or either found in a crevice.

Lode or Lead are words usually substituted for vein ; they are, however, generally applied to ore deposits found either in crevices or openings.

Swither .- A metalliferous crevice, making an angle with the principal vein or lode ; some- times called a quartering crevice.

8 o'clock, 10 o'clock, etc .- Ranges whose course bears toward the sun at those hours of the day.

Openings .- They are of two kinds, vertical and horizontal. First. Vertical openings are known as crevice openings, which are mere enlargements of the crevice in certain parts, these being sometimes co-extensive with the vein in length, and sometimes mere local enlargements. There are in the same crevice frequently several openings, situated one above the other, separat- ed by beds of unproductive rock. Crevices vary in width from one to several feet. When very wide and high, they are sometimes called tumbling openings. Second. Horizontal open- ings are large, irregular spaces between the strata which contain the lode. Such openings are usually from one to four feet high, and are frequently superimposed upon one another, separated by an unproductive rock, called a " cap." The "cap " of one opening being frequently the "floor " of the one above it.

Pockets are small irregular cavities in the strata, in which ore is frequently obtained.

348

HISTORY OF THE LEAD REGION.

Chimneys are irregularly shaped vertical holes found in crevices ; sometimes connecting openings, and at others extending from the surface of the ground to some particular stratum of rock.

Sheet .- This is a term usually employed to designate a solid body of ore, exclusive of other minerals, which may fill a crevice or opening. A sheet is said to "pitch " when it inclines con- siderably from the perpendicular.

Gouge .- This is the soft rock or clay frequently found between the sheet and adjacent wall-rock.

Bar .- The term denotes a band or belt, of very hard and unproductive rock, crossing the crevices and sheets. In crossing a bar, all sheets become less productive, and are sometimes entirely lost, the crevices usually dwindling to mere seams. Their width varies from a few feet to many yards.

Wash dirt is the name given to the small ore, as it first comes from the mine, mixed with small pieces of rock and clay.

Pipe Clay .- A light-colored plastic clay, frequently found in the openings and crevices. Drift .- An underground gallery or roadway.

MINERALOGY.

There does not appear to have been any absolute and unvarying order in which the minerals of the lead region were deposited in the mines. The following conclusions are derived from the inspection of the ore as it occurs in place in the numerous mines visited, and from the examination of a great number of specimens; and it is assumed that when crystals of one mineral are coated or covered with another, the overlying one is the more recent. The minerals . appear to have been deposited in the following general order :

GALENITE.

SPHALERITE.

DOLOMITE.

CALCITE.

PYRITE.

MARCASITE.

CHALCOPYRITE.

BARITE.

CALCITE.

CERUSSITE.

SMITHSONITE.

MALACHITE.

AZURITE.

The order above given, however, is subject to very numerous and important exceptions, and is more particularly applicable to crystallized specimens than to heavy ore deposits. Large bodies of ore frequently consist of galentine, sphalerite and pyrite, so mingled together that no order of deposition can be ascertained.

In general, it appears that the sulphurets of the metals were deposited first, and that the carbonates have been generally, if not invariably derived from them. Carbonate of lead (cerussite), when found crystallized, always occurs in connection with galenite; and carbonate of zinc (Smithsonite) is so frequently found graduating into the sulphuret (sphalerite) as to leave but little doubt of its origin from that mineral.

349

HISTORY OF THE LEAD REGION.

It seems not improbable that the formation of the carbonate of zinc may even now be taking place in the ground to quite a large extent, especially in such deposits as are not below the water-level, or are only periodically submerged.

It is a well-known fact that the drybone diggings are usually comparatively free from water, and that the zinc ore below the water-level is usually blende (sphalerite) with but little admix- ture of the carbonate. As the level of the water in the ground becomes gradually lower, and it is a well known fact that it does, the atmosphere, together with surface water charged with carbonic acid, is permitted to act upon the blende, and a transformation from the sulphuret to the carbonate is the result.

The association of calcite with other minerals is such as to indicate that it must have been formed in crystals during at least two different periods. Stalactites of recent origin are found in the mines, which on being fractured show a distinct crystalline structure, and large planes of cleavage.

The following is a list of the minerals known to occur in the lead region, arranged accord- ing to the system adopted by Prof. Dana, in his " Mineralogy :"

Sulphur .- Native sulphur is found, but seldom in the lead region ; its presence is usually due to the decomposition of iron pyrites. It is usually found in a pulverulent form. Some pieces weighing as much as an ounce were seen in a cabinet at Hazel Green, which are said to have been obtained from a small sheet in some of the Buncome mines. It is said to be not uncommon in this vicinity. Other localities where it is found are Mineral Point and the Crow Branch diggings.

Bornite .- Variegated or purple copper ore. Composition-Copper, 62.5; iron, 13.8; sulphur, 23.7. This is quite a rare mineral. A few pieces have been found in the copper diggings near Mineral Point ; it has never been found here crystallized, but always massive and in small pieces.

Galenite .- Composition-Lead, 86.6 ; sulphur, 13.4. This is the only ore of lead found in sufficient quantities to be of economic value. It is universally known in the lead region as "mineral." It frequently occurs in distinct crystals, either as a cube or some modification of it. Octahedral crystals are quite rare, but are occasionally found, especially in the carbona- ceous shale of the southern part of the region. Usually, however, galenite occurs massive, with a very distinct cleavage. Freshly broken surfaces have always a bright steel color, which speedily tarnishes on exposure to the air.

Sphalerite .- Blende or black-jack. Composition-Zinc, 67; sulphur, 33. This is one of the most abundant minerals in the lead region, besides being of great economic value as an ore of zinc. It is almost invariably found as an associate vein-mineral in the horizontal deposits of lead ore. It is usually found massive and compact, of a dark-brown or black color, due to a small portion of iron contained in it, and more or less mixed with gelanite. The lead region has never afforded a perfect crystal of blende, although many specimens are found with small and imperfect crystalline faces. The fractured surfaces of such specimens usually have a resinous luster.

Pyrite .- Composition-Iron, 46.7 ; sulphur, 53.3. This is the most common vein-mineral found in the mines. It is universally met with in veins, lodes or other deposits of ore, and in many cases impregnates the rock when all other minerals are absent. In crevices it frequently appears to have been the first mineral deposited. It is usually found massive, although hand- some crystallized specimens are frequently obtained from the mines. In crystals it usually as- sumes some modification of the cube, the octahedron being quite frequent. It also occurs in radiated and reniform masses. It has never yet been considered of any economic value in the lead region, and as it is so much mixed with rock it is doubtful if it could be profitably sepa- rated, except by the natural process of disintegration, to which some varieties are liable when exposed to the air. The Crow Branch diggings and the Linden mines afford large quantities and good specimens of this mineral.

350

HISTORY OF THE LEAD REGION.

Marcasite .- Composition-Iron, 46.7; sulphur 53.3, or same as pyrite. The difference between this and the preceding is but slight, and chiefly due to crystalline structure; the former belonging to the mono-metric and the latter to the trimetric system. It is somewhat lighter colored than pyrite, and decomposes more readily in the air. It is quite a common vein mineral, and occurs in globular and cockcomb shapes. It is abundant in the New Diggings district. It is difficult to preserve specimens of this mineral, longer than a few months.

Chalcopyrite .-- Composition -- Copper. 34.6; iron, 30.5 ; sulphur, 34.9. This is the princi- pal ore of copper in the lead regions, and is most abundantly found in the vicinity of Mineral Point. It usually occurs massive, frequently mixed with pyrite ; small and indistinct crystals are occasionally found.

Hematite .- Composition-Iron, 70; oxygen 30. Impure arenaceous varieties of this mineral frequently occur, nowhere, however, sufficiently rich or abundant to be of any economic value. It seems to be chiefly due to the decomposition of pyrite, and is most common as the ferruginous sandstone concretions in the upper beds of the St. Peters. It is also frequently found as ocher, with other vein-minerals, especially in the flat openings.

Oxide of Manganese .-- A substance consisting of manganese with a little oxide of iron, zinc, and traces of magnesia, according to an analysis of Dr. Bode, of Milwaukee, is found in crevices in the Trenton limestone, in some diggings situated on Section 11, Town 4, Range 1 east. The mineral is as light as cork ; color brownish-black, sub-metallic luster and streaks; soils readily, and is infusable. It is very soft, and does not occur crystallized. It has a structure in thin parallel layers, resembling wood.

Calamine .- Composition -- Silica, 25.0; oxide of zinc, 67.5; water, 7.5. This mineral is of very rare occurrence in the lead region. It is found in small, drusy crystals ; coating, Smith- sonite. The crystals are very brittle, colorless, and have a vitrious luster. It is found near Mineral Point.

Barite .- Composition-Sulphuric acid, 34.33 ; baryta, 65.67. It occurs usually white and massive, but sometimes in lamellar and crested forms. The only place where it was found in distinct crystals, was in the railroad cut at Scales Mound, where it occurs in small cavities, as small but very perfect transparent crystals, associated with dolomite and pyrite. It is not a very abundant mineral, but is found in several of the mining districts, especially Dodgeville and Min- eral Point.

The following is an analysis by Mr. E. T. Sweet, of a specimen from the southwest quarter of Section 6, Township 5, Range 3 east, in Van Matre's survey :

Silica.

2.24

Alumina.

.83

Sesquioxide of iron. .77

Water

Trace

Barite, sulphate 95.27

1.30

Lime, sulphate

100.41

Anglesite .- Composition-Sulphuric acid, 26.4; oxide of lead, 73.6. Traces of this min- eral are reported as occurring in some of the mining districts, but no specimens have as yet been obtained. It probably originates from the decomposition of galenite.

Calcite .- Composition-Carbonic acid, 44 ; lime, 56. This is a vein-mineral, common to all the deposits of ore, whether in crevices or openings. It occurs crystallized in modified rhombo- hedrons and scalinohedrons. The variety known as Dog-tooth-spar is a very frequent form, especially in the Shullsburg and Linden districts, which affords very handsome cabinet specimens. The Mineral Point district affords handsome rhombohedrons, and the Linden mine affords hand- some twin crystals of calcite set in sphalerite (blende). It also occurs there, rarely, as a pseu- domorph, after marcasite, and has then a radiate or divergent form.

351

HISTORY OF THE LEAD REGION.

Dolomite .- Bitter spar or brown spar. Composition-Carbonate of lime and carbonate of magnesia, in slightly varying, but nearly equal, proportions. It occurs occasionally in small rhombohedral crystals in cavities of the Galena limestone. The best locality for obtaining cabi- net specimens is in the railroad cut at Scales Mound.

Smithsonite .- Often improperly called calimine. Composition-Carbonic acid, 35.18; oxide of zinc, 64.81. This mineral, commonly known as drybone, is one of the two ores of zinc found in the lead region. It is found most extensively in the central and northern parts, and usually in connection with blende. It crystallizes in rhombohedral forms ; such specimens are, however, rare. It usually occurs massive, having a structure similar to partially decayed bone, from which it derives its common name.

Pseudomorphs, of Smithsonite, after calcite, are sometimes formed. They occur as rhom- bohedrons, and in the various irregular shapes in which calcite occurs in the lead region. Per- fect crystals, in which the transformation from calcite to Smithsonite is complete, are very rare. It is much more common to find skeleton crystals, or those which have been formed by the depo- sition of a smooth, light-colored shell of Smithsonite, about a sixteenth of an inch thick, over all the exposed surface of the calcite, followed by a gradual removal of the crystal contained within the shell. The space within the shell is sometimes partially filled with Smithsonite, and fre- quently planes of the original crystal. Pseudomorphs are also found in which the imperfect crystallization of sphalerite is very evident. Smithsonite is also found covering crystals of gal- enite, which are undecomposed.

Cerussite .- Composition-Carbonic acid, 16.5; oxide of lead, 83.5. Cerussite is occa- sionally found in small pieces, but never in sufficient quantities to form an object of mining. It occurs in irregular rounded pieces of a yellowish color, exhibiting no crystalline structure. It has been found near Mineral Point, and in former years quite frequently at the diggings near Blue Mounds. Cerussite is found in small irregular translucent crystals of a white or light-yel- low color, in the mine of Messrs. Poad, Barrack & Tredinnick, near Linden. The specimens were large, cubic crystals of galenite, coated with pyrite, the crystals of cerussite being formed in both of these minerals. The specimens indicate that the crystals of pyrite had been formed, and many of them broken before the formation of the cernssite. .

Hydrozincite .-- Composition-Carbonic acid, 13.6 ; oxide of zinc, 75.3 ; water, 11.1. This is a mineral of rare occurrence in the lead region. It is found at Linden and Mineral Point as a white, finely crystalline, fibrous incrustation on Smithsonite.

Malachite .- Composition-Carbonic acid, 19.9 ; protoxide of copper, 71.9; water, 8.2. It is occasionally found in small seams, mixed with other ores of copper in the Mineral Point cop- per mines. Crystals or good cabinet specimens do not occur.

Azurite .- Composition-Carbonic acid, 25.6; protoxide of copper, 69.2; water, 5.2. It occurs similar to malachite, massive and in scams, associated with chalcopyrite. The Mineral Point mines afford very beautiful cabinet specimens of small rhombohedral crystals of dark-blue color.

Visitors in the lead region will constantly hear the terms "brown rock," " glass rock," "pipe-clay opening," etc., used by the miners to designate the different strata in which they work. This would be an advantageous system were it not that the several names are applied to widely different strata by persons in the several districts. The term "glass rock," for instance, is indiscriminately applied to all the strata in the buff, blue and Galena limestones. The following section is given as a general guide in understanding the relative position and thickness of the strata and openings, to which reference will occasionally be made in the subse- quent pages. The section, however, will not be found of universal application, but merely shows the strata as their position is now understood by the most intelligent and systematic miners.

In practice, the most reliable plan for determining the geological position of an ore bed or mine, is to find the out-crop of some well-defined horizon in the vicinity, and ascertain the distance of the bed or mine above or below it, after making due allowance for the dip.

352

HISTORY OF THE LEAD REGION.

There are numerous openings occurring in all upper and middle beds of the Galena lime- stone, none of which appear to be found regularly in all the districts. The section is, therefore, confined to the more persistent oponings of the lower beds :

GALENA LIMESTONE.

Green rock.

4 feet.

Green rock opening.

3 feet.

Green rock. 12 feet.

Brown rock.

12 feet.

Brown rock opening.

5 feet.

Brown rock

8 feet.

BUFF AND BLUE LIMESTONE.

Upper pipe-clay opening.

5 feet.

Glass rock (blue limestone) 25 feet.

Glass rock opening .. 6 feet.

Buff limestone

12 feet.

Lower pipe-clay opening.

3 feet.

Buff limestone ..

10 feet.

St. Peters sandstone.

feet.

HISTORY AND CHARACTER OF THE MINES.

The history of the mining interest of this region is essentially a history of the region itself. The following reliable and detailed report of mines was made by Mr. Strong in 1877. Such new mines as have since then been opened are named further on in this work :

BEETOWN DISTRICT.

This is the most westerly district in which any productive mines have been worked. In former years they were very productive, but have gradually become less so. There are several sub-districts, of which the principal ones are Beetown, Nip-and-Tuck, Muscalunge and Hack- ett's. The diggings in the immediate vicinity of Beetown are situated north and east of the village, chiefly in Sections 20 and 29, of Township 4, Range 4 west. There are here, on the ridge, about a dozen principal old ranges, all nearly parallel, and bearing a few degrees north of west. They vary from half a mile to a mile and a half in length, some of them extending easterly to the Grant Diggings. There are no large organized companies at work in them, the principal product being by individual parties in small lots.

Lead ore is usually found in this district in two principal openings, known as the " Twelve- foot Opening " and the " Sixty-five-foot Opening." The first is named from the height of the opening, which usually averages about twelve feet. The second derives its name from sixty- five feet of unproductive rock which separates it from the first. The following parties are now, or have recently been, mining near Beetown :

Brown Bros. § Birch .- These diggings are situated in the Hull Hollow, about three- quarters of a mile south of the village. They were discovered in 1860, by Walters and Rob- erts, and were first worked in the twelve-foot opening. There are three parallel east-and- west ranges, situated about nine feet apart. They produced lead ore, which is found in flat openings, four and one-half feet high and four and one-half feet wide, lying about seventy feet above the sixty-five-foot opening. The ore. has been traced by a level three hundred feet west from the discovery shaft. The depth at the working-shaft is sixty feet; the greatest depth in the ridge will be one hundred and sixty feet. Work was commenced in the winter of 1875-76, since which time the product has been 35,000 pounds. The prospects are considered good.

Wilcox Diggings .- North half of the southeast quarter of Section 32, Township 4, Range 4 west. This ground has been recently bought by Messrs. Henry, Ross, Gundry and Toay, of Mineral Point, by whom it is now operated, under the name of the Beetown Mine. Work was commenced here by Mr. Wilcox in 1868. A level has been run in the ground 500 feet, under- lying a flat sheet of blende or Smithsonite, which is, in places, 36 inches thick. The sheet

353

HISTORY OF THE LEAD REGION.

has been found to extend eighty feet north and south, and one hundred and thirty feet east and west; its extreme limits are not yet known. On its south side, some cop- per ore has been found. The sheet lies in the upper pipe-clay opening. About twenty-two feet above the sheet of zinc ores, is one of Smithsonite and lead ore, one hundred and fifty feet wide, whose length is unknown. It lies in flat and pitching sheets, in the green-rock opening. The ground has produced lead ore to the value of $3,500; also, forty-five tons of Smithsonite and one hundred and seventy-five tons of blende.

Josiah Crossley & Co. produced about eight thousand pounds of lead ore in the operations of one month.

Crossly & Bass .- Situated south of the preceding. Work was carried on for six months, and stopped by the owner of the land. Twenty thousand pounds of lead ore were produced.

Wilcox & Sons .- These parties have been working about a month in a new east-and-west range. The prospect is considered good.

Pigeon Diggings .- They are situated in the north half of Section 20, Township 4, Range 3 west, and consist of several east-and-west ranges, in which the ore is found in flat openings in the " Brown Rock " division of the Galena limestone. The ground is owned by Messrs. Bar- ber, Dewey & Cox. There are ahont fifty men employed here, mining chiefly in the old work- ings at a depth of from thirty to fifty feet below the surface. The annual product of the Pigeon Diggings is about two hundred and fifty thousand pounds of lead ore. Mining is chiefly con- fined to the winter season. During the last year a sheet of Smithsonite was discovered on the southeast quarter of Section 19, which has produced sixty tons.

Hackett's Diggings .- These mines are situated on Section 17, Township 4, Range 4 west. They have been idle for several years. Work has recently been resumed on them by the follow- ing parties: Hutchcroft & Pigg, and Whitehead & Co. They have now good paying mines in the sixty-five-foot opening. The annual product is about thirty thousand pounds.

Nip-and-Tuck Diggings .- Situated on the south half of Section 25, Township 4, Range 5 west. They consist of several cast-and-west ranges crossed by north-and-south ranges. Very little mining is now done here. The parties are Sillick & Co. and Roberts & Co. The annual product is about twenty thousand pounds.

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History of Grant County, Wisconsin, Part 52

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899 Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Co. Number of Pages: 1044

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 1044