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No. 69. r- GEOLOGICAL REPORT ON THE COPPER LANDS OF LAKE SUPERIOR LAND DISTRICT, MICHIGAN. ««^H J-ii ,. ,„™,„.' rJ'-O il 1. 1:' il $ •^ ' LETTER . . - .0l^i ,£1 Vmh f/^ti-rfeiili FROH - ■■ ■ ' ■ ■' 'i tHE SECRETARY OF THE IK TERIOR J 3'S.J Tn* geotagieat report on the copper lands of Lake Superior lam distriei^ Michigan. ^ 'jjfite 'f"iimM f«rfl .'nii DiiB ,■ (f-^'v* . "nffi {•<• ^5y:u/j}eiB j,y'i'f!ii<'! LifVri'i-) i>3U«^- • May1§, 185C. '<^i^\ nhhai^ * ilrnfit, Refened to Ute Commiuee on Public Lands, anil ordered to be primed.,- ii.i'n3>:.')h '«W .f'Hmcj) bKfrolf>ci " 10,000 copies extra ordered to be printed.^ ^ kU Jo J-^IUT -f^ f£i/;!{ Wi*A»Vig"toft, 4prt/29, 1850. Sir: 1 have the honor to cpmmunicate, herewith, a letter trom the Conunissioner of the General Land Office, transmitting the report of ' Messrs. Foster and Whitney, United States geologists, on the copper lands of the Lake Superior land district, Michigan. I have the honor to be. very respectfully, your obedient servant, T. EYimOy Secretary, Hon. Howell Cobb, Speaker of the House of Representatives. General Land Office, April 26, 1850. Sir: I have the honor to communicate, herewith, a report from Messrs. Foster anri Whitney, United States geologists, on the "copper lands" of the Ijake Superior land district, in Michigan, accompanied by a number of views of the principal features of that interesting region, with diagrams of the mines, &>c., illustrating the work. There is, also, accompanying^ this report, a facsimile of a map of Lake Superior and the adjacent re* gions, made by the Jesuit missionaries in 1679 and 1671, and published at Paris in 1672. This report contains a vast fund of valuable information, and the pub- lication of it will be an important addition to the cause of science. It would have been communicated with my annual report, but the time since those gentlemen were appointed was too short to enable them to ',-•■*> . *1 ■' '\ 2' v.nil .t3 ;}..' iWtVNo. oBPi ,9.B3J'i^7o'^ la if. .iKwr'^' is! prepare it in season. It is now submitted as suppbmentary to that report, and I respectfully request that it may b« so communicated to Congress. With much respect, your obedient servant, ^'^- J. BUTTER FIELD, Commissioner. -O^ Hon. Thomas EwiNG, K/uii . Secretary of the Tntei'ior. ^ J ---'.■'...'. ^ i r-t ' JTT. J > Boston, April 15, 1850. Sir: We herev.ilh present to you a report on tlie "copper lands" of the Lake Superior land district. When it is considered that this district em- braces an area of more than sixteen thousand square miles; that nearly the whole of that area is an unbroken wilderness; that we were required to explore considerable portions of it with sufficient minuteness to designate the character of each quarter section ; and that, in the accomplishmeht of this object, our camp equipage and provisions, and even our canoes, were carried for long distances on the backs of men; and that the limited state of our supplies often compelled us to press on without regard to weather — under, these circumstances, we trust Are shall be pardoned if it be found that we have fallen into minor errors, or hastily passedsome points which were deserving of a more mipute examination. In the delineation of the main features of the region, we trust that this repcjrt will be found correct. With sincere thanks for the aid afforded us in the prosecution of these researches by several of the officers attached to th? bureau over which you preside, we subscribe ourselves, . Sir, with great respect, your most obedient servants, ' ,1.;... , ' - J. W. FOSTER, . , i;;|;;;;;;^; -ni^f^ j.d.whitney, - • -^^^ To Hon. JhSTIX BUTTERFIELD, .»/'!,"< V' 'i' '■''' ';';'" •^'-- ',*" noil odj ?5/fitl I ■'W.)';'i. Commissioner of the Gemrttl Laiia Offte^ •■.:Uiv) J.I ?WoH Mill .•>.yMl\s\i\y>.\v\i%\'\n "y/vvW ■..\\'\«> -wift^v^*^. .&n».'^}f auri} nnqo'i a '.^Uiffmt^d .'>ti5')iuitfnnt'>'j oj i;)ri;ui ?iij i>Vi.ii! I ;itiJ* Btamsifiil) dli'ff tiioitio; -gii'De-xi'^ini teiU'lo ^"njiJt.ai Uifii'iimqndt'io if'i-ovi t » •9T isi" .j.Hm «ih fins- v>nr-sj\, c jrw{9t fcii!; bmhiU\ua hnr .ITdf htiz WTcH ni R^iffUirM^pln; iiu--l ndt y'{ tdnmt .".ivi'.j iaiit "jfi UK? ,n'i\n lawny^j -(iH-ilij^Kr h;>i'ihj v - il i-JI&- ■• '• •.»;.,*>*•,- .'■ REPORT^ • ' >. ( 4- OK TDB > >' • . 1 '. ;; I OEOLOGY AND TOPOGRAPHY- OF A PORTION or THE I V h< LAKE SUPERIOR LAND DISTRICT, IK THE STATE OF MICHIQAJ^: BT . f i. V,. J. W. FOSTER AND J. D. WHITNEY, UNITED STATES GEOLOGISTS. '?r TWO PARTS. ' PART I. COPPER LANDS. WASHINGTON: PRII^TED FOR THE HOITSB 01 KUi'K- 1850. "^ if 4, r-," M'-A-t '44« >X Y:niA)iTK> ■ Tdi »i-f4*;> A •,r '-\ . ,, 1- ) •: >■ ' n n-* I 1 M^^^ .-oaHl D ri DAD T -'-^^ Orni-^n\i'dn ;)tiT . hlvW Hl^HJ ««f'»t1q!i'r-'li K •»»?;!;'■ it ^' tt «n AT» m -'-'^^ t^'^JWvLui'dA ;)tiT . hivW .■>, ■ ■ - OM THE ,. „._ _. 1 .-,... .'...,.,/ ■ '\^-i. V'>i!f ;:'^:^^* GEaLOGY AND TOPOGRAPHY ,i'"i jCvSlV;. •iu-.tui t'H 1 • ••' / '^.-.Lii'. .ikH] 'I i. v,.l ■. ■: 1 ^ '"i- w I i ' ' i t OF A POKTIOW OF . ,*>.(« r •?• :. . . ! ^ fi. .;a'»J THE LAKE SUPERIOR LAND DISTRICT, IM I ,~ f 1 .. '.,.1* -■: , THE STATE OP MICHIGAN. : .. ^ 'I tOI v* i. 1- . t « I- INTRODUCTION. t ■».1j m iBtstorical sketch. — RaymbauU and Jogues^s voyage to Saut. Ste. Marie,'—; Rent Mestiard visits Lake Superior. — Alhiiez follows. — DaMon and Marquette follow. — Grand Qyuncil. — Marquette proceeds to Cheen Bay. — Discovers the Mississippi. — His death. — Alloiiez's death. — Early map of this region. — Effect of the Missionary labors oh the Indians.-" Travels of Hennepin; Charlevoix; Henry; Mackenzie. — Expedition of General Cass ; of Schoolcraft ; of Maj. Long. — Dr. HougfUon ; his labors and death. — The treaties by which this ^iMric't was ceded. — The severalaetsof the government in refeience the) t/. — The act authorizing t/ie survey. — Its organization. ..■.'••■ • .. .V -',,. '.:,•• ■' ...[, The first steps towards? the exploration of the country bordering on the great chain of North American lakes were taken by the Jesuits of Canada, more than two' centuries ago, under the auspices of Count Frontenac, then governor general of that region. On the 7th of September, 1641, Charles Raymbault and Isaac Jogues, two missionaries of the order of Jesus — an order whoso memorials are to be found in every quarter of the habitable earth — accompanied by several Hurons, left the bay of Pentanguishene in a bark canoe for Saut Ste. liniie. At the' head of this bay they had established a mission, ti formed, at that time, the western terminus of the travelled route between Kontreal and iiake Huron, by way of the Ottawa river and Lake Simcoe, and for years afterwards, while the power of Prance in the Northwest re- mained in the ascendant, constituted an important link in a chain of posts extending for iTvore than two thousand miles. The route of Raymbault and Jogues lay through the Georgian bay, and 'thence among the countless islands that stud the channel of the St. Mary's Doo. No. rni|iiiirtrig tlinm in llio liiiiiiiinK t'iii>i*lr|ic ■^' i; ^wam (or <<«Miiiiriii>i. Tlio t'liinfN inct'lvMl iIkhii lomlly iiiiil invilnd tliriii to liwnll ill (heir iitiili^l. *< Wn will oinliiiicn yon iin lirolliorN," (liny Miiit, *' niid |tio(li 'y your woiih." 'rii«y liiM'n liuiiiM'd ol'llin iMi .liy llm liitliiuiN Kitolii •^llllllili, (l)i^: liiko,) r)iir|inr*rdiiM In iiinKiiitndn ritlmr Ifiiinn or Mlt'liiKiin, ilitMi tMillnd lllitHijn, hoyond wIiono wi'Mtorn liniilN wan m (MMililiy (loNliliitc ot'lrtxM, liiit nivoiod willi ^iiiNriy |iliiiiiN, iIii'oiikI) which niiniK^'i liri'dN of IiiiII'mIo tind door, lloi'o d\v 11 |t<>iintiiMMi lio itiniiK'd' Willi .Iouikvi lo iiiii'liiM*, wlu»i«^ Im dird ( ii-tolM«r ifi, UWi. I'\illii- minions lr<ul, liiiiiN< r(II Qn« air, and fhtihos tho wild llowtM's of tho do.srrl " U«' waa Jwst (ho ni«'ridiaiMd"lifi\ hnl posNo.sM'd all tho /,(«al of youth. Ho wont orlh with (ho orosoniiniont tiial lie was porliMininK I'i^ layl joiirnoy, for, in writing ha(f ()c(ohcr reached ilio head of Kowconaw hay, which lio nnnird J^t. Theresa tho day of his arrival !)eini!; (ho anniversary of him was allorwnrds obtained. This liapponod August 'iO, l()(")l. Tho world applaiuLs tho heroism of Oohimbns who hninchod out ni>on a trackless (mmihii in soaroh of n new world. Tho humble misjion.iry who, committing himsoU to tho guidance of savage attendants, voyagoil for days with a boundless wnsto of waten on ono side, and ow "tho other an inibnikou wildornoss, showed n degree of oountgo and onthnsiasm which has rarely boon rivalled, and wliich ougltt to n>sono his name from (d)livion. I'laudo Alloiicz Ibllowod in his footsteps. On tho 8th of August, 1666, he oiulnukeil at Three Rivers, »ocompiu>icd by four hundred Indians, ■i MIpQ'IIqM' ii In (iSanl,V tlinUHMMl ririK tli«m ;hi)>|>rwM li tlKMII to (liny mimI, It'll l>v tll«i Imr Idimn lilN wn* • iikI) which itid iiKlotn- Nvllii'll liM Mill tHn in- Hi(iil*li»liiiig i^pt'iktnl fiK- riir lollow- ( hlnlMir U*J, I. l.iiwnniMJ I HitoTdH nittl \ most i^iM>- i coiniiiitUMl {) vi(nnily«f of \\i» ior \]w 'iHth of (.{( of uocm- ih tlio litllo lie was llr \vm\t l«ui'iiH you vivcd ai tlt« lUH', and on , wliioli lie isiWy ; i\iid whiitt fvnod l-'nllicr (is (ihtniued. heroism of T.h of a now tlio guiilwice isUi ol" watuTB \vo(l a dcgre* , and wliich liigust, 1666, red Indians, »• wild worn oil ilioir rutiirn Troiii Uiioboc. Lu iIm Iwglutiiutf n( ^4«l|)t«tl^bor liu tirhvad ni Uui •Siiut. niid tiiiUirtd Lukv l^u|i«ri'>r/*wliirli," mud Uj« ii(iMnl iiiiNMioiiuiy, '*»liull li(iii<'.i;forili Iwar (lio uuiiie of M. du TMcy, in loUtiii of tliu *ll)li^uliollN Ui(i i)eo|il(! of tUi« roKioii aro uiuUit to hiin^" uud lliiH i« tliM iir....o iiopliod lo il uit llio ourliost iitap. t^. it. "'t'liii MuvuKON, liu C4iiainu«««, ''roNpc'cl ilii» uiktimin(livlniiy,aii{rnr Hurritl'Oh |o il lior/iUMu of it<4 Ni/j;, for It in two tiuiidrud luagiici lont^ itiid itl«lily liromi, and uIno tit i:oinif»|iinucu of itM fiiriiintiiii)^ tloMu wiili fi>tli, upon wliii;li all llir nalivoM live wlion litiniin^ ia p' "co in iIimhi: i\'vtrU:rn. " * ' Il liiipiM'ON fn)<|U(iiill'' iliat piocui.'i of cop .ru i*)iiud; woi^liing Iront Urn to iw«)iily |hmiim1h. 1 itavo nuoii «ovur; id pircnn in tlifi handit of NiuaKos; and niiico tliuy uru vory HiitK-i njn. ilioy nnitiuut liioni UN diviiiKioN, or uh proNnntM givon U) tliuin to | 'loto lIxMr lianpi- nuNM by lliu K"*''^ wIio dwoll JHiiiuutli iho wutor. i'trUiiN roaHon tlioy promtrvi) llio^o pircuM of coj>|K)t' wiap(M)(l up witli tiiMir iiiomI prociouM ailicloH, In honio iiiinilioM tliuy liuvu Utwi liupt Ibr tiioru tliuii fittv yoa^; in otli«ri4, llioy liavo ditNt'.uiidoujVom tiiiii; oiti of mind Ucini^ awtiHlnni «N (JonioNlic. inod.'!, -, 'Ht'J^ •.■9«< "tNifHoiiin tiiiin tliorn wan Rncn notr tlio NJioro ii largo r«)r:li of co|i[icr Willi iu top miwu; above llin wutor, wliidi unvu an opijori unity to tJion*! paRHing by to nil picct;^ from it; but wlion 1 paNvcd tlnil vicinity it liml di,siipp(!Ui'i!(|. I bolicv*! tiiul tlio KaloM wliich un; hero frr!i|iiont, liko Uiomo of th«! sou, had <-ov(:r(Mi it with KUtid. Uiir HUvaguN trii^-.d to purfiiado mo thut it wan a divinity who liiid diNUppourod; but for what cauMo ihity wuro iinwilliii;*: to tt lie is the terror of the Iroquois, and that his name is sufficient to make them tremble, einee he has desolated their lands, and earned .iire among their settlements. There are beyond the scq ten thuusand Onnontios like him, who are but warriors of that great chief, our King, of whom I fpeak. When he says ' I go to war,' everybody obeys, aijid these ten thousand chiefs raise bands ot warriors both for the land and for the sea. Some embark in ships, like those you have seen at QLuebec. Your canoe will hold but. four or five men — twelve to the utraoKt. Our vessels carry four and five hundred, and even a thouftand. Another portion go to war on land, but in such numbers ihht, when arranged in double ranks, they would reach to Mississaquenk, which is twenty leagues from here. When hs attacks, he is wore fearful than thunder. The earth trembles, and the air and the sea are on ]9iie«']Wr>. ##i oi^ 1>iiffo, and thfliKifl down the Wisottisin into the Mmissiyrpi. In iht«i ex- pedition he was accompanied by Joylet, a courtier of France. They del wended the mighty current as far as Arkansas, and then turned htKik. They represented that they were hospitably entertained by thu lllrnois^ who dwelt upon its banks, while by other ♦ribes they were repulsed. This relation of the voyage of Marquette was not published until soma time after his death, and by some it is regarded as tabulous; but Bancroft is disposed to adopt it as worthy of entire credence. Late in the season the voyageurs reached Chicago. Joylet hastened tlored. Even Caribou, a low island in the midst of the lake, and not visible except within a few leagues, did not escape their observation. 'fire from the dischargee of hin cannon, tie has been seen in the midst of hia squaiironA covered with the blood of his enemiex ; an many of whom has he put to the aword, (hat he docs not number their scalps, but merely the rivers of blood which he has caused to flow. He carries such a number of capives with him thnt he does not value them, but letH them go where they please, to show that he does not fear them. Nobody dare make wur on him. Ail nniions be- yond the sea have sued for peace with ^reat submission. TJiey come fhim every quarter of th« globe to listen to him and admire him. It is he who decitic^'i upon the alTairR of the world. What shall I say of hia riches? You think yourselves very rich when you have ten urtwelvesacka of corn, and hatchet.s, and kettles, and other things of the kind. He hus more cities than you have men, which are scattertd over a spnce of more than five liundr»'d leagues. In etch city there are shops containing httchets enough to cut all your wood, ketilcs encush to cnok ul' your caribou, a»;d sn^ar enoug-h to fill all your wigwams. His hou.se extends further than from here to the Saut, is bii^her than the lullest of your trees, and contains more people than ho largest of your settlements ever contained." ♦History of the United States, volume I. ■ < ■ : -v" • 10 Boc. No. 69. I Alloiiez, Marquette, and Jogues weie remarkable men, and, had their lots been cast in a different sphere, they would have left a more durable impress upon tlie age iu which they lived. Their efforts to win the tribes of the Northwest to the standard of tlie cross, prosecuted with great zeal, and under circuinstaaces of privation and suffering, may be regarded as abortive. !• There is something impressive in the rites of the Catholic church — something in its mysteries calculated^ to overawe the wild inea of the woods. So long as the missiontuy was in their midst and superhitended their labors, they yielded to his gnidance and adopted his reconimendja- tions, so far at least as conduced to tlieir comfort; but when he withdrew, with equal facility they glided into their former habits. The superstruc- ture raised with so mucli care fell to the ground the moment the sus- taining hand was withdrawn. The effect of the contact of the two races has been to afford the Indian additional incentives to vice, while his in- tellectual and moral elevation has been little advanced; and at this day, it cannot be said that he stands higher in the scale of civ^ilization than when first known by the w|iite man. Such knowledge as we possess with regard to the early discoveries in the Northwest is derived from the "Relations de ce que s'est passe de plus remarquable aux Missions des peres de la compagiiie de Jesus en la Nouvelle France." They are, comprised in many volumes, to be found in the library of Harvard College. The occurrence of native copper naturally excited the wonder of tho first voyageurs, and the references to it are numerous. The first mention is made in the Relation for lt)59-'G0. An Indian, .named Awatanick, who had passed from Green Bay to Lake Superior the year previously, reported "that its borders were eniiclied with lead mines, and copper of such excellent quality that it is already reduced in pieces as large as the fist. There may also be seen rocks which contain large vems of tur- quoise," (green silicate of copper.) The relator adds that he has heard of the existence of gold on St. .Joseph's island, and that the rivers of Lake Superior bring down grains of gold. Anotlier relator states tliat diamonds occur on some of the islands at the fiwt of Green Bay. In the .Relation for 1009-70, Father Dablon says: "We have learned from (he savages some secrets wliich they did not wish at first to commu- nicate, so that wc were obliged to use some artifice. We do not, how- ever, vouch fu' cvin-ylhiug contained in the iiillowing account. After enterijig, the lake, the first place met with containing copper is an island about lorty or fifty leagues from the Saut, towards* the north shore, oppo- site a place called Missipicooatong, (Michipicoten.) The savages relate that it is a tloating island, beaig sometimes near and at others afar off. A long time ago four savages landed there, having lost their way in a fog, with which the island is frequently surrounded. It was previous to their acquaintance with the P^'ench, and they knew nothing of the use of ket- tles and hatcliets. In cooking their meals, as is usual among the sava- ges, by heating stones and casting them into a birch bark pail containing water, they found that they were almost all copper. After having com- pleted their meal, they hastened to re-embark, for they were afraid of the lynxes and hares, which here grow to the size of dogs. They took with "f^,S' Pnc. ^. .69, II , had their re durable ti the tribes great zeal, egarded as J church — lea of the lerhitended ioiumenda- withdrew^ superstruc- int the sus- e two races hile his in- at this day, zatiou than scoveries in v !st passe de Jesus en la to be found nder of the irst mention Awatanick, previously, id copper of large as the eins of tur- gold on Sti own grains le islands at lave learned to couimu- not, how- unt. After is an island shore, oppo- vages relate afar off. A -ay in a fog, ions to their use of ket- ig the sava- 1 containing laving com- ifraid of the jy took with them copper stones and jilates, but had hardly left the shore before they heard a loud voice exclaiming in an angry tone, 'Who are the thieves that carry off the cradles and the toys of my children?' They were very much surprised at the sound, not knowing whence it came. One said it was the thunder; another that it was a certain goblin called Missi- bizi, the spirit of the waters, like Neptune among the heathen; another that it came from the Memogovissioois, who are marine men, living con- stantly under the water, like the Tritons and Syrens, having long hair, reaching to the waist; and one of the savages asserted that he had ac- tually seen such a being. At any rate, this extraordinary voice produced such fear that one of them died before landing; shortly after, two others died, and one alone reached home, who, after having related what had happened, also died. Since that time, the savages have not dared ta visit the island, or even to steer in that direction." The Father attempts to explain this superstition by supposing that they were poisoned by using the copper boulders in cooking their meat, and that the supernatural voice was an echo of their own, and that the vanishing and reappearance of the island was due to fogs and haze which hang about it. He concludes by adding that it is a common belief among the savages that thu island contains an abundance of copper, but that no one dare approach it. ■ "Pushing along t ) Le Grand Anse, (Neepigon bay,) we come to au island called 'Thunder island,' which is noted for its abundance of metal. (This is probably St. Ignace.) Further to the west is an island called Menong, (Isle Royale,) celebrated /or its copper. It is large, being twenty-five leagues long and seven leagues distant from the main land. One bay at the nonheast extremity is particularly remarkable. It is bound- ed by steep cliffs of clay, in which there may be seen several strata or beds of red copper separated from each other by layers of earth. In the water is seen copper sand, which may be gathered with spoons, although there are pieces as large as acorns. This large island is surrounded by several- smaller ones, some of which are said to consist entirely of copper. One, especially, near the northeast corner, is within gunshot of the main island. Further off in that direction is one called Manitou-minis, on ac- count of the abundance of copper. It is said by those who have visited it, that on a stone being thrown against it, a sound like that of brass when struck is heard. "After having reached the extremity of the lake, there may be seen (one day's journey) on the south shore, by the water's edge, a muss of copper weighing GOO or 700 lbs., so hard that steel cannot cut it; but when heated it may be cut like lead." On one ot the islands near Chaquamegon bay, he relates that copper rocks and plates are found, and that he bought of the savages a plate of pure copper two and a half feet square, Aveighing more than 100 lbs. He supposes that they have been derived from Menong, and that their trans- port has been effected either by floating ice or by powerful winds from the northeast, which have rolled them along the bottom of the lake. He mentions the fact that the Ottawa squaws, in digging holes in the sand to hide their corn, often find masses weighing 20 or 30 lbs. "Near the river Nantonagon (Ontonagon) may be seen a bluff, from which stones of red copper fall down into the water. Three years since we were presented with a piece from that locality weighing 100 lbs. ' We have cut some pieces from it, and sent them to Talon, at Ciuebec. The savages do M jkt.ito.ei! not all agree as to the place whence it is derived. Some say tha^ it is where the river begins; others, that it is close to the lake, in the clay j and oiheni) at the* forks, and ali^ng the eastern branch of the river. ' "Further on is found the long spit, (Keweenaw Point,) which we hiave coQipered to the arrow of the bow. At its extremity is an island six feet square, which is said to be entirely of copper. Finally, to complete this surrey of the Great Lake, we would add, that it is stated that mines pf the said metal are found in several places to the south. All these cir« ciinAstances, together with others which it is not necessary to mention^, are deserving of an attentive examination. We would also mention an oxide of copper, which is snid to come from the crevices of certain rocks, (Pic- tUi^ Rocks,) and the occurrence of certain pebbles along the shore, Which are somewhat soft and of an agreeable green color. If God pros. pert our undertaking we shall speak about it next year with more knowl* edge and certitude.'' Hennepin and L'Hontan passed through the lower lakes, but di^ not enter Lake Superior. . " : 7 '■] Charlevoix, whose voyage was published at Paris in 1744, passed through the great chain, and his observations are well worthy of perusal. He mentions that pieces of copper occur on the islands of Lake Superior, and that he knew a brother of the order, a goldsmith by trade, whoj while on amission at Saut Ste. Marie, had made chandeliers, crosses, and -censors of it. - . Shortly before the trenty'of Paris, in 1763, by which the whole of this territory was ceded to the British Crown, Alexander Henry, an English^ man, visited Mackinac for the purposes of trade. At that time the Indians regarded the English as intruders, and entertained towards them hostile feelings. Henry was among the few who escaped the massacre at old Fort Mackinac, and owed the presefvation of his life to the offices of a friendly Indian, who contrived to convey hira to the northern shore of Michigan, whence he made his way to Sant Ste. Marie. In 1771 he su- j|ieiintended a mining enterprise in the vicinity of the forks of the Onton- agon river, near the site of the copper rock. ", Their workings were prosecuted in the clay bluffs which line the banks of the stream, and the miners during the winter perforated the hill to the distance of forty feet. Having neglected to secure their work with sup- ports, on the approach of spring the earth caved in and destroyed their drift. A boat-load of provisions was sent to the miners from the Saut, but, much to the surprise of Henry, when it returned on the 20th of June, he found the whole establishment of miners 'aboard. It is not surprising that explorations so ill-directed and visionary should prove abortive; and yet the miners represented that, in the progress of the work, they frequent- ly met with considerable masses of native copper, and believed that they would ultimately have reached a large body of that metal. '" In the month of August, 1772, the mining force was transferred to a vein on the north shore. Little was done during the winter, but before the close of autumn the miners had penetrated thirty feet into the solid rock. The vein, which at the beginning was four feet in breadth, had, in the bottom of the shaft, contracted to four inches. Under these dis- Qoui-agitig circumstances, further mining operations' wore abandoned. ton. iy^.^^. '4 .■Jt-<.-: Obc. Ao. fl9j » ' thaV H 19 le clay; and jH we have ind six feet mplete this t mines pf I these cif' lention^ are )n an oxide ocks, (Pic- the shore, ■ God pros- loie knpwl- lUt not 44, passed of perusal. :e Superior, rade, whoi crosses, and hole of this m English, it time the wards them massacre at le ofl&ces of rn shore of 771 he su- the Onton- e the banks hill lo the with sup- eyed their the Saut, )thof June, t surprising ortive; and jy frequent- d that they ferred to a but before i the solid eadth, had, these dis- doned. ■ , i 1 Henty cpi^cludes, from the results of his unsuccessful experirpent in mipirt :at the copper can never be profitably mined, except for local consur m, and that the country must be cultivated and peopled before, this cb^i suke place. He remarks, it was in the hopes of find,ing silye;^ u» snfficient abundance to make the speculation profitable, that the worksP were commenced. He speaks of the discovery of this metal in only one place, Pointe aux Iroquois, where, according to his authorityi a Mr.;^pr-. burg, a Russian gentleman, acquainted with metals, discovered! a bluer stone of eight pounds' weight, which was sent to Euglan^'ftnd fi^und ttt^ contain sixly per cent, of silver. None of the early explorers seem tc have noticed the existence of metal- lic silver associated with the copper, although we know that, among the nunteraus masses of copper which have been picked up on the shores of the lake, some have contained a considerable quantity of silver interspecsfi^ throiigh them. > ., In 1819, General Cass, under the authority of the Secretary of W«r»' directed an exploring expedition, which passed along the southern shores of Lake Superior, and crossed over to the Mississippi. This expedition had am'oflgits principal objects that of investigating the northwestern copper mines, and was accompanied by Mr. H. R. Schoolcraft, in the capacity of itiineralogist and geologist. His observations are recorded in his "Narra- tive Journal of Travels from Detroit northwest, &c.," published in 1821. In the spring of 1823, Major Lqng, actingunder the orders of the War De- partment, and accompanied, by several scientific gen tlemen , started ou an ex- pedition, the object of which was to explore the river St. Peter's and the- counUry situated on tlie northern boundary of the United States, betweea< the Red river of Hudson's bay and Lake Superior. In returning, they coasted along the north shore of tliis lake. Professor Keating, in bisuar-' ration of the expedition, remarks that they had seen native copper (boul- ders) strewed in many directions over the great valley drained by the; Mississippi and its tributaries. All the early explorers seem to agree in the opinion, that if deposites of coj^r should be aiscovered in this region, yet, so great is its distance from a market, and so wild aud unsettled the character of the country^ that there would be no hope of their being profitably worked-rf^ ^98t lor many years to come. s V •. The attention of the government was called to the mineral resources of the Noithwest during the presidency of the elder 4dams, and a commis- sion was instituted with the view of exploring this region; but we have been unable to ascertain why nothing further was done in this matter. Such was the state of things up to the time when Dr. Douglass HQ^gh-: ton, State geologiist of Michigan, in the prosecution of his labors, ooiu- menced the exploration of the northern peninsula, aiid by his official le- . ports awakened attention to this distant region. In his annual report, pre- sented to the legislature of Michigan, February 1, 1841, the great featiirei* of the country were sketched with a masterly hand, and the first definite in* formation with regard to the occurrence of the deposites of native copper in the rocks was laid before the world. After this preliminary reconnab- . since of the country. Dr. Houghton entered into a contract witlr ihei United States government to execute the linear survey of the northem peninsula in connexion with a geological survey, according to the ^y^teiai devised by him in connexion with Wm. A. Burt, esq. Dr. Houghton n a&c. Wo. Vb: hkd, in the prosecution of the State geological survey over the extensive territory of the southern peninsula, found how great an amount of labor and how large a corps of geologists would be required, were the whble ^nnd to be gone over by the geological parties, and had availed him- self of all the information which could be obtained from the linear sur- veyors who had directed the United States surveys in various sections of the Stste. He had engaged them to notice th3 rocks which they should ctoss with their lines, and, if practicable, to procure specimens of them, do that he ml^t thus obtain a general idea of a region which he ha« neither time nor means to explore fully himself. In the course of these inquiries he received a great amount of valuable information, especially from Mr. Burt; and he was thus led gradually to the idea of adopting a system ' which should connect the two surveys, so that they might be Executed under the authority of one person, and then a systematic ar- rangement of a great number of observations be brought to perfection. The survey of the northern peninsula was arranged on this principle. The township lines were to be run by Mr. Burl, or under his super- vision, while the subdivisions were to be made by other deputy sur- veyAs — Dr. Houghton having the especial control of the whole. Ail rocks crossed by lines were to be examined, specimens taken, and the exact locality noted, while at the same time as much information as could be obtained was to be collected in relation to the geological and topogitipbi- eal features of the country. The detailed arrangements with regard to the collection of specimens, and the plan of accompanying the sur- veyors along the lines by a special barometrical observer, were admirable. This system had been fairly organized, and the field-work of one season nearly completed, when his melancholy death, by drowning, on the night of October 13, 1847, occurred. Most of the results of his extended personal observations were thus lost to the world, and the system was gradually abandoned, though for some time the linear surveyors were required to make geological observations; yet, as they were not systematized by any person familiar with the science of geology, the results were pever laid before the world in an available form, although much information of value was placed in the possession of the department. ,j y-. iyiiiih jjm. Dr. Houghton was a nian of indomitable energy and perseverance, auiid fervently devoted to the cause of science. Had he lived to complete this great work, he would have erected an enduring monument to perpetuate his name. He died in the discharge of his duty, prematurely for the cause of science, prematurely for his own fame. The lands composing .the Lake Superior district were acquired by the United States by virtue of the foUowmg treaties: / 1st. With the OttaXvas and Chippewas, concluded March 28, 18qp — ratified May 27, 1836 — by which were ceded the lands bounded oii, the north by Lake Superior, on the east by the St. Mary's river, on the i^uth by Lake Michigan, r^nd on the w(Q§j; by tj^e Escauaba and Chouok^ 2d. With the Monombriees, cbnckided September 3, 1836— ratifi6^Feb- Tuia'ry 1.5, 1837— by which was ceded a tract bounded on the east l^y the Escanaba river, on the south by Green Bay, on the west by the M«>nomo- neie river, and on the north by an irregular line extending from th/fe mouth df the Brule to the head-waters of the Escanaba. / 3d. With the Chippewas of the Mississippi and Lake Sup^ior, con- D0^. ITo. 6fif . thie extensive ount of labor re the wh'ole availed him- le linear sur- is sections of h they should lehs of them, irhich he had >urse of these )n, especially of adopting a ley might be systematic ar- to perfection, his principle, ler his super- : deputy sur- ! whole. Ail ken, and the alion as could id topogi^apbi- 'ith regard to ying the sur* ive admirable, pf one season ning, on the his extended system was irveyors were systematized ts were pever Dformatipn of jverance, and complete this to perpetuate urely for the uired by the h 28, 18^ mded on. the , on the sputh ad Cho At the subsequent session of Congress an act was passed, entitled " Art act to establish a new land district, and to provide for the sale of mineral lands in the Slate of Michi^sin," approved March 1, 1847. wi'i By the first section of this act, all of that portion of the public lands ftt'^ jthe State of Michigan lying north of the boundaries of the Saginaw and^ Grand river land districts in the State, known as the northern peninsula, ' wilh the islands in Lakes Superior, Huron, and Michigan, and in Green ' bay, the Straits of Michillimackinac, and the river St. Mary's, within the^ I jurisdictipn of said State, was- included in one land district, to be called the Lake Si^perior land district. The second section provides that the Secretary of the Treasury cause >i geological examination and survey to be made and reported to the Gom- < missioner of the General Land Office; that the President be authorized to ' cause such t)f said lands ais may contain copper, lead, or other valuable ' ores to be exposed to sale, first giving six months' notice of the times and places of such sale in eiich newspapers of general circulation in the severtd * Report of D. R. McNair, Jtlineral Agent ; Ex. Doc. No. 9, 30th Congreso, 3d Bessio*.' i HI Doc. No. 69. ii States as ^ may ^eem axitedient, with a brief description of the land* t(^ be offored--r-8h9^ing the jaumber and locality of the mines known, the practicability of discovering otiiers, the quality of the ores, the facilities for working the rninea, and the means and expense of transporting dieir prO' ducts to the principal markets of the United States; and that all of the lands in thoi said district not reported as mineral be regarded as agricol- tural. ' The third section secures the rights of those persons in possession by occupancy under permits , or leases, from the Secretary of War. The other sections of the act in no way relate to th^ objects of thejiUfyeyj and a X)9t dtal of their provisions is omitted. i-v-^ro'J ta !n>4ia.>/M if.i.>f a 'in 'iltii.^ From the time of the issuing of the permits the business of rhining has been prosecuted with vigor, and in many instances with success. The day is not distant when the product of these mines will supply the home demand, and add much to the national wealth. In a busuiess like this, proverbially uncertain the world over, there have been many failures, many schemes of wild and extra vagan| speculation, and many plans of ill- advised and ill-directed mining, which have resulted in the rum of those engaged in them. Extravagant expectations were held out in the com- mencement, which the mining experience of the world declared could never be realized. These, .however, have passed away, and the business has settled down into a regular, methodical pursuit, affording an admirable field to the , mining engineer for the display oi skill and Judgment, and yielding to the adventurers a reasonable return for the capital invested. In the spring of 1847, pursuant to the provisions of the above-recited act, the Secretary of the Treasury appointed Dr. Charles T. Jackson to execute the required survey. After having spent two seasons in the Srosecution of this work he resigned, and its completion was confided to [essrs. J. W. Foster and J. D. Whitney, the results of whose observa^ tipns will be found embodied in the subjoined report. In the prosecution of this work they have been aided by Messrs. S. W. Hill and £dward Desor, as first assistants, by Mr. William Schlatter as draughtsman, and Mr. W. D. Whitney as botanist. The aid of Mr. Hill has been of the most essential service. His long residence in the district and his connexion with several public surveys in the Northwest, had given him opportunities of collecting a large fund of information, which has been cheerfully contributed to this work. Hia measurements and plans of the mines, his observations on the phenomena of veins, his contributions to the boundaries of the rocks, as illustrated on the accompanying maps, and his thorough and laborious explorations during his connexion with the survey, are all gratefully acknewledged by the geologists in charge. The phenomena of the drift and alluvial deposites of this region have been ably investigated by Mr. Desor, and the results of his observations will be found embodied, by him, in that portion of the work which relates to the superficial and transported materials. ' • His previous investigations of the driA in i»urallel latitudes in western Ekirope, and of glacial action as manifested in the Swiss Alps,' and the foinnation of shoals along the coast of the Atlantic as observed by him during his connexion with the Coast Survey, had qualified him to enter upon this field with every prospect of success. we 'V.V >]^.:i ^oe. No. 69. it he land» to- tnown, tht facilities for g dieir pro- ,t all of th^ asagricid- «Bession by The other Yf and a re- raining has icess. The y the home ss like this, ny failures, plans of ill- iiin of those in the com- slared could lettled down field to the. siding to the ibove- recited Jackson to sons in the confided to >se observa* jssrs. S. W. Schlatter as His long surveys in irge fund of Iwork. His ] phenomena lustrated od ions during Iged by the region have Observations (hich relates Jin western Ips,' and the I* J 1 .. I.: V6u uy mill ^im to enter When it is considered that the agrioiltural capacity of a soil results not so much from the decomposition of the subjacent rocks as from the superficial deposites strewn over the surface, which have been derived in most cases from sources far remote, it will be found that an undue jwom- incnce has not been given to this subject. Besides, an investigation into the sources of these materials, and the agency by which their transport has been effected, forms one of the most interesting chapters in the phys- tccd history of the earth. The results of his observations on the/atmaof this region will be com- municated hereafter. The execution of the maps was confided to Mr. William Schlatter, and we do not pay him an underserved compliment when we say that he has completed the work wiih consummate skill and ability. Much of this work has been executed in the midst of the forest, beneath the shelter of a tent. The investigations of Mr. W. D. Whitney were mainly directed to the Jlora of this region. His remarks on the nature of the forest trees, their geographical distribution and the .t-r.< >*S'%. ,L y.' ,. ,■.-.. ■}. iS 1 ..■•;5-. . ill,,..!,. ' '^> ■ ^ ' . . . .''.,., Iff. ( 1 ■--.' . .i . ii '■ , .'■•' ■ (fr-; 18 Doc. No. 69,\ 1 m ,}jU';;,^ -f-.v^ ^- '}r'»;(^;'..' f.,if»i>ijj;-.;.-Aj^, i-,t-j i,i>^fr' ^Tf-^f-rt!') ' t }in3i*}(.■!•. •' CHAPTER I.- 'r.1 .^■'■ao,^ ntrr^) tr^^'v, ^,;^.;d, PHTSICAI. GEOGRAPHT. ' : ,: vr,*.r.! < fl»H r f J^ .,,.'■..!■,, •t.j.tv.-l .. .<>■ I Boundaries of the. Lake Superior land district. — Extent of the lake.—^ .■ Islands. — Harbors. — Bnys. — Coast. — Michiffan. — Extent. — Bays. — Islands. — Huron. — Rivers. — Mountains. — Table of heights. The region which forms the itnmediate subject of this report is bounded on the north by Lake Superior, on the east by the St. Mary's river, on the south by Lakes Huron and Michigan, and on the west by the Mon- treal and Menomonee rivers, including the several islands belonging t6 the United States, and within the jurisdiction of Michigan. It is known as the Lake Superior land district, and contains an area of 16,237 square miles. ' , It is included between latitude 45° and 49° north; and longitude 83** 45' and 90° 33' west from Greenwich. Its coast, more than SOO miles in extent, is washed by three of the great North American lakes. Lake Superior, the largest expanse of fresh water on the globe, contains 33,000 square miles. Its surface is elevated, according to Captain Bay- field, of the English Admiralty survey, 627 feet above the ocean-level, while portions of its bed are several hundred feet below; thus forming one of the deepest depressions in the surface of the earth, excluding those portions covered by the oceanic waters. Its coast is 1,500 milns in extent; Its maximum length, from Gros Cap to Pond-du-Lac, in a direct line, is 355 miles; its maximum breadth, from Grand island to Neepigon bay, 160 miles. The shape of the lake is very irregular, its widest expansion being near the centre, while its extremes are contracted. Its northern shore is rocky, affording many bold headlands, and many deep and spacious bays. Nu- merous groups of islets gird the coast, which appear to be peaks, or aiguilles, connecting with the main rock far below. Of the larger class may be mentioned St. Ignace, at the outlet of Nee- pigon bay, f,300 feet in height; and Pie island, at the outlet of Thunder bay, which rises to the height of 850 feet. They are both composed, in the main, of rocks of igneous origin, and present bold and picturesque outlines. The southern coast is studded with fewer clusters. Towards the head of the lake there is a group known as the Apostle islands, composed ot sandstone, and attaining an inconsiderable elevation. The channels be- tween them afford good harbors, accessible from every point. La Pointe, situated on Madaline island, is already a place of some commerce. Grand island, about midway between the extremes of the lake, affords one of the finest and most beautiful harbors in the world. Its northern shore, where exposed to the surf, is lined with high cliffs of sandstone; but the southern portion slopes gradually to the water's edge. Towards the eastern extremity are several low islands, composed of sandstone, which are of no great importance. In addition to these are two remarkable islands in the midst of the Doc. No. 69. H the lake. — it. — Bays, 'tta. is bonnded 's river, on )y the Mou- >elonging t6 It is known i,237 square ngitude 83*> SOO miles in ibe, contains :;aptain Bay- ocean-level, ; forming one uding those lis in extent; direct line, is gon bay, 160 n being near lore is rocky, bays. Nu- be peaks, or utlet of Nee- of Thunder composed, in picturesque rds the head composed ot channels be- La Pointe, nerce. 3 lake, affords Its northern of sandstone; composed oi midst of the kke, both of which are due to volcanic action. These are Isle Royalo and Michipicoten; the former belonging to the United States, the latter to Great Hritain. Isle Royule is situated in the northwestern part of ihe lake, being inter- sected near tl\e centre by the 89th degree of west longitude, and the 48th of north latitlonged beyond the main land, and resemble the fingers attached to the human hand. These fingers afford safe and commodious harbors. The numerous long and narrow inlets which indent the coast result from its geological struc- ture. Alternating bands of soft amygdaloid and hard crystalline green- stone, which oppose unequal resistance to the action of the elements, have contributed to form the peculiar outline of the coast. Powerful currents, at no remote epoch, swept over the island in a southwesterly direction, which ground down the softer beds and polished and grooved the harder, to their very summits. So tliorough was this process, and so slightly haveHhe harder materials, in the lapse of time, yielded to the ordinary action of the elements, that these grooves can be observed over surfaces of great extent, sharp and well-dofiued. No tree takes root upon these polished surfaces; the lichens even cannot find sustenance. The island everywhere presents a desolate appearance. Barren rocks; a dwarfed growth of cedars and birches, hung with drooping moss; abrupt cliffs, impassable marshes — these are the striking characteristics. The caribou, the lynx, and the rabbit are among the few animals that roam over its surface; the hawk, the owl, and the pigeon represent the feathei-ed tribe. Where the igneous rocks prevail we find deep and spacious inlets, among which may be mentioned Washington harbor on the west, Todd's harbor and McCargoe's cove on the north, the deep recesses formed by Locke's point, Blake's point, and Scovill's point, on the east, and Rock harbor, Chippewa harbor, and Siskawit bay on the south. The southern point of the latter bay, which consists of sandstone, is approachable from the southeast, and also from tlw south, by a narrow and intricate channel. It abounds in hidden reefs, running parallel with the main land. The numerous ridges which traverse the island longitudinally arc unt- formly bare and pre(?ipitous on the northwest and sloping on the southeast. ! The intervals are occupied by small lakes, wet prairies, or cedar swamps. Michipicoten is situated in the northeastern portion of the lake. It is eighteen miles in length, arj^ rises to the height of eight hundred feet above the water. It is a mass of gi-eenstone, and one of the points selected by the Quebec Company for mining operations. In the midst of the lake is a remarkable islet, known as Stannard's rock, [SO called in honor of Captain Charles C. Stannard, by whom it was dis- I covered in 1844, while sailing the brig Astor. It has been erroneously described as an isolated peak or needle, shoot- ling up from the bottom of the lake, and affording deep soundings on 1 \ everv side. Such , is not the case. It rises about four feei above the wate'-level, and exposes a surface of fifty feet in length and twenty in breadth. During a storm the waves sweep over it, but its posi- ^ fioc. Mo. 6ft ■'111 i ■ I l:i ' tion is indicated by a long line of breakers. Professor Mallier, who vis- ited it in 1646, thus describes it iti some MS. notes communicated to ns: "A dangerous shoal extends a mile or more to tlie NNE. of the rock, and anotlier, as indicated by the ripple, to the NNVV. In approaching it, we passed over numerous ridges and deep troughs between — the rocky bot- tom plainly in view from'ten to fifteen and twenty feet below the surfiice.'' To the south and sou di west of the rock the water 'is deep, even at itl> base. It is a sandstone of a dark red color, and somewhat metamoiv. f)hosed by heat, and disposed in nearly horizontal layers. Its bearings, rom the most reliable information, are, from Maniiou island, at the head of Keweenaw Point, SK. ^ E. 27 miles; from Point Abbaye, E. by N. i N. It lies in the direct route between Grand Island and KeweenaW •Point, so that it is necessary for the navigator to make a detour to avoid it. This is the only reef known to exist in the midst of Lake Superior, and it is a matter of surprise that it remained so long undiscovero - . tion of MacKinac did not escaj)e the keen eye of the Jesuits. Oaoloa speaks of it, in 1670, as the centre of three great lakes; and from *')a» '}r\y to the present it has been an impt>rtant point — a sort of coii:.v:>! gromi i — in the negotiations between the two races. The hirbo' « excellent. There is nothing to make this island a place of any greai l Mumercial im- portance; but had the government relinquished the fee of the laud. , it would have presented a fer different appearance from what we now be- hold. Micbirnackinac signifies big turtle, so called from a fancied re- semblance in the contours of the island to the form of that animal. Lake Huron is little inferior in dimensions to Michigan, its greatest length being two hundred and sixty miles; its greatest breadth one hundred and sixty. Its circumference is eleven hundred miles; its area twenty thousand four hundred. Its shape Js that of an inverted cone, Georgian bay, one hundred and seventy miles in length and seventy in breadth, forms the northeastern portion , and lies exclusively within the British jurisdiction. Saginaw, a deepaiid wide-mouthed bay on the western coast, is the principal indentation. The riu> of the lake is composed for the most part of de- trital rocks, which are rarely exposed. In the northern portion of the lake, however, the trap rocks on the Canada side intersect the coast. The waters possess great transparency, and extend to a depth rwt sur- passed by those of Superior and Michigan. They rarely attain a tem- perature higher than 60°, and are stocked with fish of the finest flavor. The surface exhibits the dark- blue, or blue-black, so characteristic of the ocean. The northern coast, in the vicinity of the outlet of the St. Mary's, abounds in numerous clusters of island;^., wh>ch form the most attractive feature in the landscape. Captain Bay.iil.i t ?nid to have landed or ten thousand, in the pii>secution of his .rv./ i to hav^ limated the whole number at thirty thousand. '' ' The following table, with some alterations, exhibiting the area, eleva- tion above the sea, and depth of the five great lakes, is taken from the report of S. W. Higgins on the topography of Michigan: : .!., |. j> I . _,lt". 1 '. . l!i I , ■; ' jX ■;■'»'. ,1, r." •(■' ' ''.'It M i't: •r tioc. No. 69. ^ at the outlet its. ()ao' n ■'"'• *' Lakes. Qreatest length. Qreitest breadth. Mean depth. Hciijht above m*. A rca in ^uara mile*. Superior ..'. Michigan Mitt*. 320 2r»o 240 180 MUti. 160 100 1641 RO 35 Fi't. 900 900 900 81 500 627 37R 67H 566 232 32,000 22, (MK) 20. 4t)0 Huron Erie 9. 6(K) Ontario 6,3t>0 1' ' II 'i4 ' ' i" ■ ' '■' ^ 1 ' Total 90,300 . ■.; ■■ ,.i 1 The entire area drained hy these lultes is estimated, on the same au- thority, at 335,515 square miles. TliiB district is a part of that immense plain bounded by tife Appala- chian chain on the east, and the Rocky mountains on the west, ar' I ex- tending north and south from the Gulf of Mexico to the Arctic se; Its mean elevation above the sea is less than a thousand feet, ond its culmi- nating points nowhere exceed 2,500 feet. Thev can hardly be dignified with the name of mountain chains, but may be egarded as the more ele- vated portions of a gently rising and widely extt nded plateau. The bods of the great lakes are depressions,, reaching far below the ocean level. In this plain, with their branches interlocking, he tv/o great rivers of North America have their origin — the Mississippi : ad St. L; wrence; the one discharging its waters, through many mouths, iito the (Julf of Mexi- co; the other expanding into a gulf many hundreds 'f miles in extent be- fore it becomes merged in the ocean. These rivers are as diverse in character as in direction. The Mississippi is the longer, but the St. Lawrence di>charges the greater volume of water. The one abounds in difficult rapi Is, the other in stu- pendoiis cataracts — the one is subject to g^-eat fluciuaiions, the other preserves an almost unvarying level. The waters of fhe one are turbid; those of the other possess an almost crystal purity. T iie one affords few lake-like expansions; the other swells into vast inland seas. Both have become the great highways of commerce, enriching the regions through \\ hich they now, and supplying the inhabitants with tl e varied products of distant climes. Lake Superior is fed by more than 80 streams, none of vhich attain any considerable magnitude, and are adapted only to c; loe navigation. Those which flow down the northern slope of the basii^ are longer than those of the southern, and the water, being more exposed :o the direct rays of the sun, possesses a higlier temperature. They all havt rapid descents, and, flowing over rocks which oppose great resistance t) the action of water, abound in falls and rapids. The carrying-place around these obstructions are known as "portages." Communication iiroughout the northwest between distant points is effected almost em rely with the tlip shin on flip oopnn. nr thpn.ampl canoe. It serves flifi samfi nnrnnsp. as - ' . ".' I — I on the desert in til A nppnri nr — > "* - — This kind of inland navigation has created a class of men of marked pecuUarities, known as voyageiirs. They are a hardy race, pa- ! -M ?4 Doc. No. 69. M tient of toil, and cheerful under the most untoward circtmstances. In their frail barks they pass from Lake Superior to the Mississippi, to Hud- son's bay, to the Pacific, and even to the Arctic ocean. Rivers. — Rivers are the great arterial features of our globe; they define the valleys, give boundaries to the hills and mountain ranges, and if traced to their source, enable us, with the aid of a few well determined culminating points of contiguous ranges, to trace upon our charts the general feature of the country through which they flow.* This know- ledge is particularly desirable at this day, when rapid communication is sought between distant points by means of railways. By barometrical observations extended over most of the district the elevation of the water- shed line has been determined. These will aid in the selection of the most practicable route between the two lakes, and enable the observer to form a pretty correct idea of the physical features of the region. The following diagram shows the course of the water-shed in this dis- trict. It is represented by the irregular dotted lines: !- *wis c 2>rsiiT I.AK1I MIC HI CAB- It will be seen that the streams flowing into Lake Mlchi^n, in the eastern portion of the district, head near Lake Superior. Proceeding west, the line is deflected from the upper lake, and another line divei-ges towards the northeast. The main line is due to the upheaval of the granite; the secondary line to that of the trap. We will describe tlie rivers of this region in their order of succession, rather than with reference to their magnitude. The Montreal is a river of no great magnitude, being navigable above tlie falls at its mouth by canoes only during the time of flood. It is formed by the union of the Pine and Balsam rivers, thirty-four miles above its mouth, Allowing its meanders. At this point, according to Captain Cram, it is eight hundred and four feet above Lake Su[)erior. Flowing over hard un^rielding rocks, it abounds in numerous rapids and cataracts. Near its mouth it is precipitated eighty feet over a sandstone ledge. Four miles up, there is another fall of about the same height, but much more pictur- esque. The aboriginal name of this stream is Ka wasijiwmig-sepi, or White Falls river. The Black and Presqu'Ish are streams of considerable magnitude, which have their sources in the granite near the southern limits of the district dischar The Jesuit flow in bined. Their locking ents of Little F The wj flavor, the jun( and has one hui to the through branche deeply c the yielc dred an to claml is suffici of the gr lods in c At the .^^ ordinaril 1$'. is often ^ drive in tance of nan'ow c at all tin Sitwo hun j water bel M become i [would b( |cughuut this rejiion it is applied to ^eei^naie the seitlenncniH at ttie heiid of Keweenaw bay. These consist of a Catholic misaion on ihi; west side, mid a Methodist inisHiot. on the east. There aie about four hundred souls, coiipisting (if Indians, half-bierda, and whiles; the first largely predominating:. Their pursuits e insist in fi4iirij; and hurting; ; cultivating, howevei, patches of potatoes, for the growth of wliii:h the soil is admirably adapted. At each nnission there is a school. The goveinment cinidoys a blarkkmitli, a rarpentcr, and a farmer, who^he(l in little more than two days; and Agindos, whoso shoulders bore, iho bulk <•' the bmden, de- serves to be panicularly named As this route is practicable, but never liavellta except by Indiana, tve will dcacribe it with some minutcnc^d. 3d Boc. No. 69. The descent is twenty-four feet — the channel being filled with numerous boulders. Portage No. 2 is on the left bank of the stream, a short dis- tance above the point where it discharges itself into the Machi-gunnui, or Big lake, (section 25, township 48 north, range 31 west.) The Portage is three-fourths of a mile long — the descent twenty nine feet. Machi-gumnii lies 1,014 feet above Lake Superior. It occupies the en- tire length of township 48, range 30, and hi its southern prolongation extends into the adjoining township. On the north it is bordered by a range of hills rising in conical knobs to the height of two hundred feet: on the soutli, the country is less elevated. Its surface is dotted with numerous small islands rising up dome-shaped, with much regularity of outline. These summits are clotlied with a dwarfish growth of cedai- and fir, while their sides exhibit blackened masses of hornblende. This lake is seldom visited by the white man, but the Indians resort here to hunt and trap. Along its shores are valuable deposites of iron, and its solitude may be disturbed within the present century by the sound of the forge-hammer and the puff of the steam-engine. At the outlet of this lake the stream becomes augmented to the width of sixty feet, with an average depth of two feet; and the descent is very rapid: the water is highly colored, and flows over a gravel bed. About a mile below the outlet occurs the third portage, on the left bank of the stream. It is a mile in length; the descent 35 feet. The bed of the stream is filled with boulders of hornblende and granite. Portage No, 4 occurs in section 7, township 40, range 29, on the left bank. Length half a mile, descent 14 feet. Between these two portages the river is confined within narrow alluvial banks, but it occasionally enlarges into lake-like expansions which are fringed with tall grasses. These become the resort of innumerable water- fowl, while the wooded banks are the chosen haunts of the beaver and otter. Pealed sticks of yellow birch, often seen floating in the stream, indicate the proximity of the former, while numerous ' 'slides" in the plastic clay-banks show that we v/ere in the neighborhood of the latter. This portion of tlie country, though elevated, contains few ridges. The rocks rarely emerge to the surlace, but are concealed by heavy accumulations of sand, clay, and gravel, raingled tt gether pele-mele. The stream descends rapidly, and its channel is filled with large blocks of hornblende and granite. Near the north part of township 40, ranges 29 and 30, a ridge rismg two hundred feet above the surrounding level is seen, ranging north of west. Towards the river it presents a nearly unbroken cHtf one hundred andlthirteen feet in height, which, on examination, proved to be nearly pure specular oxide of iron. Portage No. 5 is on the right bank of. the river, in township 45, range 29; length two and a half miles. The river for a long distance above presents a series of rapids, many of which are difficult and dangerous.* • We have indicated on the general map the position of the rapids; and in this report we have dcscr^ied th'ir character wllh gome minuteness. Wehave done this for the benefit of future navigators. When one arrives at the head of a rapid white with foam and dotted with pro- jecting rocks, he is desirous of knowing beforehand whether the descent be practicable; for once withiti the cufreiU, there is no power to retrace. We have oftt'n*had occasion to admire the dexterity displayed by our Indian voyageurs in descending long and dilFiruk rapids. It requires a quick eye instantly to detect the deepest part oi the ciiaiiiml, and to deiennine, by the break of the water, the position of hidden rocks — a Dor. Nq. 69. 29 ith numermis 1, a short dis- jhigummi, or TUe Portage t. cupies the en- prolongation bordered by a hundred feet: 3 dotted with 1 regularity of 1 of cedar and e. ndians resort osites of iron, iitury by the B. to the width jscent is very led. I the left bank The bed of lite. Portage )ank. Length arrow alluvial ins which are lerable water- beaver and n the stream, ides" in the of the latter, few ridges. 3d by heavy er pele-niele. I large blocks I ridge rising jing north of one hundred to be nearly lip 45, range stance above dangerous.* s report we have benefit of fiuure dotted with pro- cticublej furuiice ian voyageurs in : tlie deepest part hidden rocks — a T'he descent between the foot of Portage No. 4 and the head of Portage No. 5 is eighty-seven feetj the descent of Portage No. 5 is thirty-seven feet. Portage No. 6 is on tlie line of sections 29 and 30, to\^nship 44, range 29; length one-eighth of a mile. It is caused by an accumulation of flood- wood, so thickly matted that bushes and flowers have taken root, and flourish luxuriantly. Here the winter trail to Green Bay passes, and Uie mail ceurier has availed himself of this obstruction to cross the river. Within this township the Machigamig receives from the right its two principal tributaries, the Mitchikau or Fence river, and the Nebegomiwini or Night-watching river. The origin of these terms, as explained by our voyageurs, was this: At one time the deer were observed to be very numerous about the mouth of the former river, and the Indians, to secure them, built a fence from one stream to the other. They would follow rathter than overleap this barrier, until they were entrapped by their con- coaled foe. This method of capturing the deer is also practised on the Menomonee. ; The latter stream abounds in beaver and other gjirtie; and it is the prac- tice of the Indians, in the clear moon-light nights, to watch on its banks for their appearance; hence the origin of the term. ' ' . Portage No. 7 is about two miles below the mouth of the last-ntimed river, (township 4.3, range 31.) It occurs on the right bank, and is only one ijuarter of a mile in length. The river here falls perpendicularly nine feet. A high range of slate rocks, rising from the immediate banks one hundred and fifty feet, was observed. Portage No. 8 (township 48, range 31) is over a ridge of hornblende and feldspar rocks, through which the river has excavated a channel: length one-eighth of a mile, descent seventeen feet. Portage No. 9 is in the same township and range, about four miles be- low the former, on the left bank of the river; it is one mile and three- quarters long, the descent being forty-two and a half feet. The ridge, bearing north 72° east, attains an elevation of one hundred and fifty feet, whose summit is composed of granite, but the flanks consist of horn- blende and mica slate, folded OA^er it like a mantle. The banks of the stream are lined with precipitous ledges, and, altogether, it forms one of the most beautiful and romantic gorges on the Machigamig. The country in this vicinity is traversed by numerous ridges, more or less broken, which nowhere attain ? great elevation. The rocks emerge to the sur- face at short intervals, and the immense accumulations of drift noticed above are wanting. Portage No. H) is in the north part of township 42, range 31, about a mile and a half below the latter, on the left bank of the stream: length one mile and an eighth. The current is rapid both above and below, the descent between the two being fifty-six feet. At the foot of the rapids are several small islands wlii",!! divide the current. The last portage (No. 1 1 ) is about one-quarter of a mile above its junc- tion with the Menomonee. It is on the right bank of the stream, and one- of a mile in length. " The river here breaks eighth through a ridge of vigorous hand to guide the frail canoe aa it dashes on its tortuous course with the speed of a race-horse. Accidents ofien occur, but f>r(unatcly the means of rtfifin- are ulways at hand- to wit, birch baik and spruce gum. 30 Doc. No. 69. <:'ll i hornblende slate, over which it is precipitated twenty-four feet. It is the most romantic of all the cascades on the Machigamig. The length of this stream from Sagiagans, following its meanders, is about seventy miles, and its general course is south of west: the area drained by it is nearly eight hundred square miles. The Brule or Wesacota, here joins it on the right, and, after the junction, the united streams take the name of the Menomonee. The Brule has its origin in a lake of the same name, through which passes the south line of the boundary of this district. It is one of a chain of beautiful lakes which extends almost uninterruptedly along the whole southern border. The current is rapid; but only two portages occur in its course, about ten miles above its mouth, near the junction of the Me(]ua- cumecum, in township 41 , range 32. The stream is eighty or ninety feet in width, its bed rocky, and its banks studded with a thick growth of cedar, tamarack, and birch, whose overhanging branches often obstruct the passage of a canoe. The Indians have .been accustomed to ascend this river from time immemorial, on their route from Green Hay to Vieux Desert, and numerous camping-grounds are to bo found along its banks. Its ascent is at all times practicable in a light canoe. The Mequacume- cum is its principal affluent, which rises near the sources of the Sturgeon It has as long a course, and drains as great an area, as the Mml< itself. This river, too, is frequently ascended by the Indians in their passage to Lake Superior. Tiie length of the Brule is about fifty miles. The area drained by the Brule and Mequacumecum contains about nine hundred square miles. The Menowonoe may be characterized as a river of cataracts ani rapids. Although it pours down a large volume of water, expanding in places to a width of 600 feet, so numerous are the obstructions, that it can never bo adapted to other than canoe navigation. •Within the distance of twelve miles from the jimction of the before described streams two portages occur, but the rapids at these places are sometimes run by voyageurs who are acquainted with the chainieK A short distance below Bad Water lake, two falls occur within the space of a little tnore than a mile, the descent in each case being about nine feet.* The portages are short, and both are on the left bank of the river, and over ridges of chlorite slate. Great Bekuenesec (Smoky) Falls are situated in township 39, range 30, and are the most picturesque ot' all the cascades on the Menomonee. The portage is one mile and a half in length; and *< within this distance," says Captain Cram, " the descent is 13-1 feet. This amount is divided into several chutes, with intervening rapids. The general aspect of this series of falls is very picturesque. At every change in the jioint of view, new and varied beauties are perceived."' At the lower falls the water is precipitated in a sheet of foam from the height of forty feet. The river above is compressed between narrow and rock-bound banks, but below it expands into a pool SiiO feet in width. Within tlie same tovvnshi[) are situated the Little Bekuenesec Falls, where the water, in ll^e distance of 2.50 feet, falls tliirty-live feet. The portage on the left l)ank is short but arduous. Tiie descent of the river within this township exceeds fifteen feet per mile, *The heights of the fulls on the Menomonee are tslten from the report of Captain Cram-, of U»e United States topographical corf.s. — Vide Doc. .33 ;2Cth CongresB, 2d session. I ■I Doc. No. 69. 81 feet. It is the s meanders, is he area drained , or Wesacota, d streams take hrough which one of a chain ong the whole [es occur in its of the Me(]na- or ninety feet ick growth of often obstruct led to ascend [Jay to Vieux ougits banks. i Mequacume- the Sturgeon K itself. This ssage to Lake s. The area nine hundred ts ani rapids, ig in places tn t can never be of the before ese places are lanneK ir within the e being about 't bank of the 39, range 30, nonee. The stance," says it is divided ral aspect of II tlie \K)\m of 'wer falls the :y feet. The d banks, but jncsi'c Falls, e feet, The L of tlie river (ain Cram, of tlie f\ Near the west line of township 39, range 29, commence the Sandy rapids, which continue for more than a mile '^nd a half. The bed of the stream is rocky, but the banks are lined with high dunes of sand, which make this portage, which is on the left bank, the most arduojis on the Menomonee. The amount of fall here is twenty-one feet. In the same township, and about two miles below, occur the Sturgeon falls. The descent here, in the distance of one thousand feet, is about thir- teen feet. The river is contracted within a span of eighty feet, and rushes between iKjrpendicular walls of rock. The portage is on the left bank, over a ridge eighty-five feet above the stream, at the foot of the rapids. Before the construction of the dams near the mouth, the sturgeon as- cended the river to this point, beyond which they could not go. Here the Indians were wont to resort in great numbers to fish, and the remains of their camp-fires are to be seen along the banks at short intervals. Quiver falls are situated in the south part of township 38, range 28. The descent is nine feet. The portage, one-fourth of a mile long, is on the right bank. The Pomenee (Elbow) falls are five miles below. The principal descent is about eight feet, but immediately above are several ong and ditlicult rapids. The portage on the right bank is a mile in extent. A short distance below is Chippewa island, (township 37, range 2P ] Between this point and the junction of the Brule and Machi- gamig the country is rugged and broken. Numerous sharp ridges of slate, and hornblende and feldspar rocks are seen aggregated to- gether, without much system. At most of the portages bare masses of rock are exposed, sometimes precipitous, but oftener worn and polished. The soil is thin, and for the most part sterile. Fires have swept through the woods which once covered the surface, so effectually as to leave hardly a living tree. Blackened tmnks rise up on every side as far as the eye can reach. Over this dreary waste the birch and aspen have sprung up, and seenj to struggle to gain a precarious support. Below Chippewa island the soil is more genial. The valley is occu- pied by sandstones and limestones, and we meet with no sharp ridges, no exposures of rock, over large areas; but the country stretches out into gently rolling plains, traversed by occasional ravines. The river contains many rapids, but no falls. The Menomonee is one hundred and twenty-two miles in length, or about two hundred including the Maciiiguinig. The whole basin em- braces an area of not less than twenty-eight hundred square miles. For the purposes of navigation it is comparatively worthless, but it af- fords an indefinite amount of water-power. The lower portions of the valley are covered with extensive tracts of pine, which are beginning to be made available. In this connexion we may mention the St. Mary's river, conn'^cting to- gether the two lakes, Superior and Huron. It is about sixty tniles in length, flowing first a few degrees north of east, then bending abruptly, ami flowing a few degrees east of south. Tliroughout its whole course it occupies the line of junction between the igneous and detrital rocks, forcibly illustrating to wiiat an extent the physical fbLitiucs of a country .:«„i ilv^at oil iivjiuic About twenty miles from the outlet of Lake Superior,- at Saut Ste. Ma- rio, the river flows over a sandstone ledge for the distance of tliree-fourllis 8« D>oc. No. 69. 811 , \%. of a mile. Tlie descent Is between eighteen and a half and twenty -one feet, dependent on the stage of water in Lake Superior. Above the rapids the river shoals gradually from its banks, and the water is not sufficiently deep to fkiat a vessel for several rods from the shore. The banks of the St. Mary's are low, rising in no place over twenty feel above the surface of the water. Efforts haj^e been made, and will doubtless be renewed, to Induce the government to construct a canal around these rapids, and thus connect the commerce of Lake Superior with that of the lower lakes. This connexion is much to be desired, and it is believed that the en- hanced value communicated to the public domain would amply repay the expenses of the work. The mere construction of the locks is not all that is required. It will be necessary to extend a pier into the river, above the rapids, to protect the works and insure an entrance to the locks. This pier will be exposed to heavy currents, and at times to large accu- mulations of ice, and ought to be constructed of the firmest materials, and strongly protected. There are two points on Lake Superior, easily acces- sible, where materials of the most enduring character may be obtained for this work. Scovill's Point, at the eastern extremity of Isle Royale, affords a tough crystalline greenstone, traversed by divisional planes, which would assist materially in the quarrying. Vessels could approach within a few feet of the rock, and be in a sheltered position while load- ing. The Huron islands, composed of granite, afford, perhaps, a still better material. It can be quarried within two hundred feet of the water, and delivered on a vessel by means of an inclined plane or with a derrick. The islands afford a good harbor at all times. This rock is also traversed by divisional seams, which will essentially aid the quarryman in getting it out. This granite, it is believed, will become an aiticle of shipment so soon as there is a free communication with the lower lakes. The mouths of many of thvs smaller streams flowing into Lake Superior are silted up with sand and gravel, through which the water filters. In other cases, where the waves break, for the most part, in one direction, the streams are deflected from their true course, and run parallel to the shore for a long distance, until the accumulated back-water breaks through the barrier and makes a passage to the lake. i 1-1 11 Doc. No. 60. ind twenty -one bove the rapids not snfficiendy e banks of the ive the surface be renewed, to se rapids, and t of the lower ed that the en- d amply repay locks is not all the river, above ! to the locks, to large accu- t materials, and )r, easily acccs- ay be obtained of Isle Royale, isional planes, could approach ion while load- )s, a still better the water, and vith a dierrick. 5 also traversed man in getting le of shipment es. Lake Superior Iter filters. In one direction, parallel to the water breaks Table of tht principal rivers in the Lake Superior Land District. Name. Montreal... Black Preaqu'Isle ...... Iron Ontonaeon... West Branch Ea8t Branch Flint Steel Fire Steel Sleeping Misery Salmon Trout. . . . . Eaele L. Montreal Portage Sturgeon Pall Huron Dead (DuMort)., Carp Chocolate Tequamenen St. Mary's Carp of Michigan Pine Maaistee White Pish Escanaba Fort Cedar Menomonee Brul€ Mequaeuoiecum. . . Maehigamig Descent. Fut. 804 850? 850? 900 603 535 1,074 1,064 1,100 1,000 688 530 200 4a Length. 1,060 1.049 900? 1,049 MUea. 94 SO 35 25 85 50 45 35 35 15 30 13 13 35 4 65 12 20 40 40 35 65 63 Course. 50 90 55 75 75 60 123 60 50 70 NW.. NW.. WW.. N NNW NE... NW.. NW. . NW.. NW.. NW.. N. ... NW.. E..... SE N. N NNE.. E E WNW NE..... SE Aretk drained. Omlet. 8q. « • • •• ssw.. SSE... SE.... SE.... SE.... SE.... ESE.. SSE.. SSW. miUs, 420 250 380 75 460 600 350 70 85 100 75 40 15 SO 200) 575 i 75 100 200 20 100 600 1,300 450 575 400 390 1,200 320 575 800 Lake Superior. Do. Do. Do. Do. Ontonofon. DcC Lake Superior. Do. Do. Do. , Do. , Do. Do. Do. Portage lake. Keweenaw bay. Lake Superior. Do. Do. Do. '' Do. Lake Huron. Lake Michigan Do. Do. Do. Do. Do. Do. Do. Menomonee. Brule. Menomonee. ■.I I J >' i !. ■ l!" •If iW' Doc. No. e^i > Mountaipi] t ' fry u ,3JV i ' ' Mountains perform an important part in the economy of nature. While rivers Itave been aptly compared to the veins and arteries in the human system, conveying Ufo and energy to the extremities, mountains, with equal propriety, may be Ukeued to the spinal column which supports that system, giving it form and comeliness. They condense the floating vapors and cause them to descend in grate* ful showers. They are the repositories of most of the metals used in the arts. Thejc determine the direction of streams — they prescribe the forms of continents. The mountains of this region nowhere attain an alpine height. They occasionally occur isolated, but are oftener arranged in groups, or inparal* lel ridges. 1. Two granite belts occur in the Northwest — one forming the axis be- tween the waters oi Lake Superior and Hudson's bay; the other between Lake Superior on the north and Lake Michigan and tlie Mississippi riyer on the south. 'Vhe outline of the Canada range ia N. 60° E., though subject to minor irregularities. It forms the rim of the Canada shore for more than two-thirds of its extent. The sum » its of this range are gen- erally rounded, and rarely elevated 1 ,5U0 fee^ :it ove the lake. On the southern shore, a belt of granite a^.pri-aches the lake near Dead river, and thence stretches westward, sinkiiig down into a somewhat broken plain southwest of Keweenaw bay. Its widest expansion is about thirty miles. This belt constitutes the Huron mountains, which in places attain an elevation of 1,200 feet above the lake. They do not range in continuous chains, but exist in groups, radiating from a common centre, presenting a series of knobs, risiug one above another, until the summit-level is attained. Their outline is rounded or waving-^tl* ir slope giudual. The scenery is tame and unin- teresting. Hemmed iu by these knobs, it is not unusual to find nu- merous lakes and meado\7s covered with grass, forming an agreeable fea- ture in tlie landscape, liiose meadows appear at one titne to have been lakes, which have been filled with the detritus brought down from th« surrounding hills, or drained in consequence of the water having worn down the barriers which existed at their outlets. Towards the westeu'n ex- tremity of the district, the granite reappears in low ridges, and crosses the Montreal within twelve miles of its mouth. Tliere are subordinate patches of granite in other portions of the district, attaining no great ele- vation, which will be described iu the detailed report. The metamorphic belt folded around the granite is traversed by numer- ous detached ridges of hornblende and feldspar rocks, ranging in E. and W. direction, and rarely rising more than 200 feet above the surround- ing country, and present a more rugged aspect than the granite. A quartz range starts from the lake shore at the mouth of Carp river, and extends westwardly beyond Teal lake. Its outlines are sharp and well-defined, its escarpments bold, with fragments of rock strewn along its base. The boundaries of this group are defined ou tlie accompanying maps. 2. A trap range starts from the head of Keweenaw Point and runs west twenty miles; then, curving to the south v/est, crosses Portage lake near its head, and the Ontonagon river twelve miles from its mouth, and is thence prolonged into Wisconsin. Its length is more than one hundred and fifty miles; its width, from one to twelve. Between Iron and Presqu*- lature. While in the human )iintains, with supporta that ;cend in grate* ,la used in the )e the forms of eight. They )s, or in parol* ig the axis be- Jther between ississippi river ^° E., though lada shore for atige are gen- kc near Dead a somewhat expansion is mountains, | ve the lake. ' jps, radiating i , rising one i ir outline is me and unin- [ to find nu- igreeable fea- to have been iwn from th« having worn e westei'n ex- and crosses subordinate no great ele- id by numer- g in E. and le surround- granite. A Carp river, e sharp and ;trewn along companying id runs west ith, and is me hundred nd Presqu*- Boc. No. 69. 3J» Tsle nvcrs a spur sTioots off jn the form of a ctcm . nt, const ting t^ Porcupine mountains. Another spur branches off from the main chain the south, and is prolonged nearly parallel with it for twenty miles. Tl belt is made up of parallel ranges, presenting step-like or scalar decliviti* « cyi the side opposite the lake, while the other consists of gradual sir Mount Houghton, near the head of Keweenaw Point, rises up liku a dome, to the height of eight hundred and eighty-four feet: the Bohe- mian mountain, near Lac la Belle, is little inferior in height. The valley of Eagle river, on the northwest, is bounded by abrupt, overhanging cliffs, some of which rise to the height of five hundred feet above the surrounding country. In the vicinity of the forks of the Ontonagon the cliffs are equally bold , and from their summits the eye has an almost unlimited range. To the west, the trap range is distinctly marked for many miles, and the west branch of that stream flows along its base. The highest and most in> posing cliffs are north and east of Agogebic lalce. Farther west, the ranges are less precipitous and more irregular, much of the country traversed by these rocks consisting of rolling table-lands. The highest elevation attained by the Porcupine mountains is one thousand three hundred and eighty feet. A remarkable gorge occurs in township 61, ranges 42 and 43. This gorge lies about two miles south of the lake, and in that distaufe the ground rises about a thousand feet. Suddenly the traveller finds himself on the brink of a precipice five hun- dred feet deep, at the base of which lies a small lake, so sheltered and hemmed in by the surrounding mountains that the winds rarely rut&e its surface. Gloomy evergreens skirt its shores, whose long and pendent branches are so faithfully reflected on the surface that the eye can with difficulty determine where the water ends and the shore begins. From this lake flows the Carp river, and the beholder occasionally catches a glimpse of its waters as they wind through the narrow valley towards the great reservoir. To the west, and extending for five miles, he sees a per- pendicular wall three hundred feet in height — occasionally broken through by a transverse gorge— at the base of which are numerous fragments, which have tumbled from the cliffs above. Still further down is to be seen the rich foliage of the maple intermingled with the dark green of the fir and cedar, and still beyond succeeds a level plain, stretching out for • twenty miles, and clothed with a dense growth of trees; while in the di»- tance the Black river hills are seen, blue and indistinct, resting like a cloud upon the horizon. That portion of the district occupied by the detrital rocks rarely rises three hundred feet above the lake. It is not unusual to see ridges of sand and clay forming considerable elevations. The Clrand Sable is a re- markable accumulation of this character, rising to the height of three hundred and forty-five feet. Point Iroquois, at the outlet of the lake, is three hundred and fifty feet in height, and composed wholly of transported materials. 36 Doc. No. 69- ■|i ill jy^c following list comprises the heists of some of t/te principal points in . the vicinity of Lake Superior. The surface of the lake i$ assumed as . the baseiine, which is b27 feet above tide-water. lit ;mt ■Mrtbcrn ihort {frvm Ba^tld^t chart.) I « Pcet. Pieiilnnd ,. 830 McKay'a mountain r 1,000 Thunder eop« r .■ 1, 350 He lenace (estimated) r 1,300 Les Petita Ecril b50 Picisland ,.... TCO 800 70U Michipicoten ialund.. . Oros Cap (eatimated). KneemaxD Point, approximately determintd by barometir rmder Dr. Jaeksm. Township 58, range 28, southwent quarter section 1, cong]omerat« liJge . . . . Do do section 5, Man^anenn laKe Do do southwestern quarter sect ion 5, trap range Do do line between 12 and 13 Do do southwest quarter of 18 .,.., Do do line between 19 and 20. Do do southwest quarter of 20 , Township 59, range 28, Brock way's mountain Township 58, range 29, section 14, Montreal river Townsihip 58, bet'vecn ranses 33 and 24, Mount Houghton c Township 5S), range 29, Bonemian mount, at Lac la Delle , . , Township 58, range 30, conglomerate ridge, back of Grand Marais Do do between sections 9 and lU, trap ridge Do do do. 15 and 10, trap nUKe Do do do....... 13 and 16, Little Montreol river.., I Do do northeast corner of section 21 Do.... ..do northeast corner of section 28 Do do northeast corner of section 33 Township 57, range 3Q^ between sections 5 and six near Gratiot lake Township 58, range 31, southwest quarter section II, Copper Falls mine .., Do do..... south line of section 14 Do.. do section 24, Northwest mine Do........ do section 30, Phoenix mine Do do section 36, south boundary Township 57, rauge 31, section 1, trap rans;e Do do section 1, south boundary ,. Township 58, range 33, southwest quarter section 36, Cliff mine.. . , , Do do office Township 57, range 32, northwest quarter section L North American mine < Do do i9outh west quarter section 2, Albion bluff. Do do northwest quarter secton 11, Albion min* y Do..... ...do. ....office .......^. Do do south boundary of 28 JDo do south boundary of 33 Township 56, range 32, section 7, Forsyth mine ...f 641 136 307 467 252 330 370 Oil 284 884 864 659 316 730 535 550 568 696 S94 225 825 630 247 749 843 611 588 390 395 800 647. 388 475 520 M tip 'pal points in s assumed as Peel. .... 850 .... 1,000 ..,. 1,350 .... 1,300 . . . . t:50 .... 760 .... 800 . . . . 700 GU • • ■*•••• loff .%7 467 330 • ••••••• a i\j • ••••••• 4<#i 284 681 864 !••••• 659 •••••* 316 • ••#•• ToU' •■••••• SaO •••••• ODU •••••• uuO 696 S94 225 ... 825 . . 630 247 .... 749 .... 843 .... 611 .... 588 .... 390 .... 395 .... 800 • ••«•• D4 T • 388 475 520 t)oc. No. 6d. n m •r a: ; ■■ 1 I S c « O V » C ^^^ o >. 8 W £ o s lltfog^|So|^.^5,.o^ o5 o aO," ^CQ X r E P f ai:B3S«ioo'5c„=OHf5 s c ° B 1 w e-> <• a. 3 «' - o ftJ ^ ^ a. O £fe*'S ah! S ^ C ^ ^ • t~ o «o ffJ e« I M«We»5e»ff»C)rtC0 ?8 Boc. No. 69. ItllJ m |tW asass! is^n ot Oir^Qi O •9 a 3 e B o .3 I o .-& I •J -a to C .a re til •1 « » h ^ !0 01 fo c c St a OQ CO c c o o it 11 o a> ^ O 03 S u ■a s — « ■5 s « c o X = » V 0) o - c « » Li 3 O o gi o ^ — ki a; 4) « O C 01 a; O c! <» o «■§ V ft) ^ 11-5 S° CO S — ^ C o a o ?, 9»0 CISC<5(M X! -a TS CCS CB 4ti Cd OS '"< 05 09 09 on C C C COO V a; 4J (XI oa w sec y o V V V OJ > » » (U *t3 Qj 0} 0} V c s c o o ^ V V V £ n ti £ tf 5 1, M 41 ■£: X .£: '^ ■♦J w w •-• • ••••• b u ...... c ......>- o u u ...... eg . . 1 . . ■ u ::::::> .a . . . . . .S : i : i i il c o OQ <2 W P3 W PS C^ JO ?^ P^'rt CO coot CO CO CO go CO ao 00 CO CO. CO CO Q. 12 ^ Vie '.o^ O 3 ^* II •2:r « gl ai g:2 «, « £ O *j "^ 2 " *:g « O "~ •- -3 I'S S3 I 3. •fear's I 1^ S ?, 5 w» ■" fl a, ttio o ^oZ a Wi-o M M ° 3 s^ 5 3 1^ "•' 2 ^ _ * ^ ^ d s'3 "^^ = 1^.2 o ij-a E o ^ 09 ad 3 O *■ iT CO C 'w ti = ? g § c 03 CO C-" IS C-4 2 S c: c c c 33 u-d Ir OS — t9 ttJS o o «) C.J3 S « es S-° i 5 ='2-0-0 §■ A ""ta e a B * 3 ■" » ra" o *• i £ X jS V V o » -OS*'? 2 05. ■ I: ' .I'Vi. 1 . 1 t- ( ■►,. f I > : Doe. No. 69. 41 Greea bay/ and rT. Range of Ther. r —16 4- 99° ) —23+115° 3 former post is lal temperature simity of large ; while the lat- is to break the • ■ ■■, ■'.'! ".-.wv/.i • VX: , : ,X'- I, I ■Ail J- ■i': ^ :^r T t •' }l^. - • ' «? !8 2 - S DO EM „J O k. 8 a C cd CjJS- o 09 O cd n ^^ 00 «^ e o « I 2-='« * f.OQ S >. o 8 IE o 3 JS.S •t^ a a «2ss a, .s ; _ . a ^ V a z o £ D.-a 5 K. •r j; 5 " JSh8-S a a O ■ssqaai ui rtao':« 5 ■ioinuing to 'Suiidg "s-meoojtct-otOi-Hoo'V ^* CS CO W CO PO CO CO CO ^'l' CO CO en CO •■•ajuiM obeoocoao'T»05»-_wiot-r-2iffl» CO i •isngqjneg SJ:SSS;^g5S§5 •jsng 2;sss§S5§i2253 at •l8B8<4iaoN oojoomoooj — oc* 1-1 p-i nS3M(()J0|y[ ?3S;!::S5SSSS i-H si •MWOjsE oa:«eo«?-r»*;o ^ s 1 fU « s o 6 Am V •JS H '9SUB^ COCOtOmi'000'«l<50 1 •pjoo uinuiixBj^i O'«»>©mt-Q0O«DO ^ •)B31J UinUJlXttl\[ P5Cj;OM>t-(NOOT5W ^ £ a e S. S c g ■uiumny «5O0De»iMt-(Nt-!» CO — ■-ii-t-irs'»roi oi'iienoj — ■^too'oj (M o! — (N (M -1 ffJ — »9jniBj3duia) UB8UI ajBSaiSSy irtdOO'^OD—tCt-irt oo^-xicsmcoooooo eo WB3^ ODOOOOODODaOODXaO s 1. 1 ihc. No. 60. 48 'MOUB^aisH • • • © -^ "5 « 5» '* i« Cfl • •iAm'^aor^aosit^ •PIOQ — o?§52SS5S5*«®®«2«^5?5SS'«'*'=j'*S3S •l'»H + o 1 ■3 us'Nss«)iftaDao5«ao«oto->tc©Jom-<^inr^-i»t»Jioc»5Tio«a6oa:3D • oiooo"!ru'5«©to©-©r^©'^'»rEe'*.-it-«occ3>-i tCt-tOntowio'^cO'HO«>-'io a 9 © t- ©o to on to ©irt©r~«o©aD(N>rtWoo»wto«— oor-t-i'.-.G'iffjx ©•>!rsr>to.--©<9'r-©'^•'-cc^S00-* — — ©tO,TltOC»' lftlOir5irt«3<(J«'MC*!NC»5'»in»rttOi«VJJrtlf»i-i5Hr^'!)< 1 • i i c a C a 1-1 September.. . October .... November .. . December.... 1845, Janu£iry February .... Marc li c < > > August Seiiiember... October November... December 1846, Janutiry Ffbniary Marr.h 't. < % u ,■^f' Doc. No. 69. ! !i' IH:J« is' ^ o o u E o £ IM ■dQlireAOJJ ■MOUg •uiWH Xpnoio ••"l^J 'SJIIJVASJJ ^ 00 CQ 09 M U a fe5 >. 5 "o "a "o Ts TJ • "c "o -a "O I— 1 1« f« ^ • • • • * m^ t^ Oi •*"i«i-*'*'«e»ft'-A <■ It ti II II 8() 29 " 17 " 46 Doc. No. 69. ''i. i % ■I t m. ,ii: Table showiri!^ the mean temperature of the year, and of winter and sum* ' mcr, in cortesponding latitudes in Europe and America. Latitude. ■A I' 470 27' 480 50' C0« 27' 4fiO 30' 4?> 13' 59« 5G' 450 50' 450 as* 590 51' 440 40' 440 50' hfP 41' Arfjoining the great lakes- beigbt above sea. Port Wilkins— 647., Port Brady— 640. Fort Mackinac— 728. Fort Howard— 600 . Europ»*-height above sea. Paris— 222. Abo— 0... Nantes— St. Petersburg— Milan— 390. Upsol— . . . Bordeaux — 0. . . . Copenhagen — . Mean tempera- ture of the yenr, of sum- mer and win- ter. 410.4 51°. 6 400. 2 2P.1 610.4 370.8 640.6 200.8 3S0.3 390.8 540.6 380,8 170.6 6lO 7 400.4 68C 5 17°. 6 620.6 410.6 550. 7 420.8 2G0.5 630.7 360.2 730.4 240.9 60O.2 440.3 570.2 450.6 200.5 670.7 420.8 710 2 30O.7 6^0.6 Differ. ei)c«. 100. a U0.4 140.8 150.8 i 1 140. r 120.9 ■; .120.3' 11°.! thai ada] latit prec gooc IS or com< dim A] the s the s regio whic I injur again selvc! foh'ag tempe are f;i produ At] rainy Th^ at For can no of the may \ at For Phe of the vast ni curling presset ofseve fluctua tectan on the be ind( The; have n conme Ii th jto tho t (have 1 [fluctuan iter and sunt' rica. 3L_- empera- of the , ofsum- ind win- DifFer* ence. 10O.3 21°. 1 61°. 4 370.8 640.6 20O.8 , , 380.3 no.6 1 61° ^ 40^.4 U40.8 ;j ,8 68^ 5 17°. 6 62°. 6 150.81 200.5 63°. 7 36°. 2 730.4 240.9 60°. 2 '.3 >.2 120.9^ .12°.S' 200.5 670.7 42°. 8 71° 2 30O.7 , 6 ^ll«.l 630.6 Doc. Jfo. 6ft. 47 The cereaUa, or common grain, such as wheaf, irjre, oafg, and barley, thrive where the mean annual temperature descends to 28° F., provided that of summer rise to 62° or 63°. The rapid growth of barley and oats adapts them to the short summers of the north; they are found as high as latitude 69° 30', ir ' .pland, along with the potato. Wheat, which is a preCfiious crop, and little cultivated above 58° in western Europe, yields good returns in the temperate zone, when the mean heat, while the grain is on the ground, is 65°; but if no more than 46°, none of the cerealia come to maturity.* Indian corn is a precarious crop beyond latitude 46**. From the tables above given it will be seen that the temperatiire of this climate is favorable to the growth of the cerealia. Annual plants, remarks Sir Jo|in Hooker, which require heat during the summer to ripen their seeds, and which pass fie winter in torpidity, in the state of grain, indifferent to the intensity of cold, abound most in those regions where the extremities are greatest; whilst the perennial plants^ which can better dispense with the maturing of their seeds, and which are injured by the severities of winter, affect the temperate climates. Of these again, those kinds Avhioh have deciduous leaves accommodate them- selves best to unequal temperatures; whilst the individuals on which the foliage remains, or evergreens, give the preference to districts where the temperature is more constantly equal. Thus, while the shores of the lake are fiinged with spruce, balsam, fir, and cedar, the interior of the district produces the maple, the yellow birch, and the ash. At Fort Brady, the annual ratio of fair days is 168; of cloudy days, 77; rainy days, 71; of snowy days, 47. The average amount of rain which falls at Fort Brady is 29.5 inches; at Fort Howard, 35.7 inches. These results exhibit a discrepancy which cannot be fully accounted for by the difference in the mean temperature of the two places. The prevailing direction of the wir ds at the two places may be the true cause. At Fort Brady northwest winds prevail, while at Fort Howard southerly winds predominate. Phenomena of the waters. — Lake Superior possesses all of the sublimity of the ocean. In gazing upon its surface, whether stretched out like a vast mirror, reflecting the varying tints of the sky, or ruffled by gently- curling waves, or lashed by the fury of the storm, the beholder is alike im- pressed with a feeling of the grand and th3 infinite. During a residence of several summers on its borders, our i ttention has been directed to the fluctuations in the level of its waters; and, while we have failed to de» tect any ebb and flow corresponding with the tidal action, we have, on the other hand, noticed certain extraordinary swells which appear to be independent of the action of the sun and moon. These risings attracted the attention of the earliest voyageurs, and they have not failed to record their observ£\tions with a minuteness worthy of coLimendation. h the Relation for 1670-'7l,Dablon uses the following language: "As to tho tides, it is difficult to lay down any correct rule. At one time we haveliund the motion of the waters to be regular, and at others extremely "actuating. We have noticed, however, that at full moon and new moon • Murray's Encyclopaedia of Geography, vol. I. 4? Mc. No. m. i the tides change once a day for eight or ten days, while, during the re- mainder of the time there is hardly any change perceptible. Three things are remarkable: 1st, that the currents sot almost constantly in one direc- tion, viz: towards the lake of the Illinois, (Michigan,) which does not pre- vent their ordinary rise and fall; 2d, that they almost invariably set agahist the wind — sometimes with as much force as the tides at Quebec — and we have seen ice moving agairutihQ wind as fast as boats under full sail; 3d, that among these currents we have discovered the emission oi a quantity of water which seems to spring up from the bottom ?" He supposes that this results from an underground discharge from Lake Supeixor, and asks, if otherwise, what becomes of the waters of Lake Su- perior, and whence come the waters of Lakes Huron and Michigan ? In the Relation for the year 1671-'72, Father Andre thus speaks of the movements of the waters: "1 had not partaken of the opinion of those who believe that the lake of tne Hurons has an ebb and flow like the sea, be- cause I had not noticed anything very regular during the time I passed on its borders; but I began to suspect that there might be tides in the bay of the Skunks (Green bay) after having crossed Wild Rice river, (Menom- onee.) We had left our canoe afloat, the weather being calm. The following morning we were very much surprised to find it on dry ground. I was the more astonished, since I had noticed that the lake had been for a long time tranquil. From that day 1 resolved to investigate the causes. The first thing I determined was, that the contrary winds, although mod- erate, did not prevent the flux and reflux. I noticed, besides, that in the river (Fox) which empties into the head of the bay the tide rises and sinks twice in somewhat more than tweiity four hours. The ordinary rise is one foot; the highest tide I saw caused the river to rise three feet, but it was accompanied by a violent northeaster. Unless the northwest winds be very strong, they do not prevent the river from flowing down ; so that the discharge is from the middle of the bay — the water rising at each end, according to the hours of the tide. ' " We must not be surprised to find this flux and reflux stronger at the head of the bay than on Lake Huron or Illinois ; for, supposing the tide to be only one inch in those lakes, it must of course be more marked in this bay, which is from fifteen to twenty leagues long and from five to six in width, and grows narrower and narrower, whereby the water, being re- duced to a small space at the head of the bay, must necessarily rise much more than in the lakes, where the space is the widest." The late Governor Clinton collected a mass of evidence relating to these sudden risings, which is embodied in a memoir communicated to the New York Literary and Philosophical Society;* but, as it is not generally acces- sible, we will avail ourselves of the most important facts. L'Hontanf records the following incident: *'0n the 29th of May, 1689, we came to a little deep sort of river, which disembogues at a place where the water of the lake (Michigan) swells three feet high in twelve hours, and decreases as much in the same compass of time. Our tarrying there three or four day s^ gave me an opportunity of making the remark." , •Vq!= \l, p. L fVoj^e to AmericR, vol. il. Doc. No. ^9. 49 uring the re- Three things in one direc- does not pre- ly set agahist bee — and we full sail; 3d, ol a quantity rge from Lake 1 of Lake Su- chigan? speaks of the of those who e the sea, be- ime I passed ies in the bay ver, (Meoom- ; calm. The n dry ground. 3 had been for ite the causes, although mod- es, that iH the rises and sinks »rdinary rise is ree feet, but it thwest winds own; so that a at each end, ■i V.,./.i - ... itronger at the ing the tide to narked in this ive to six in Iter, being re- •ily rise much ating to these ted to the New nerally accea- of May, 1689, a place where twelve hours, tarrying there smark." % j I Charlevoix,* who traversed the lakes nearly a century ago, in reference to Lake Ontario, says: "I observed that in tliishke, and I am told tliat the same thing happens in all the rest, there is a sort of llux and relliix, almost instantaneous — the rocks near the banks being covered with water, and again uncovered, several times in the space of .a quarter of an hour, even if the surface of the lake was very calm, with scarce a breath of wind. After reflecting some tin:e on this appearance, I imas^inedit 7cas oviiisc to spring's at the bottom of the lakc^an'Un thr. shoi.fc nf their cuvnnits mth those of the rivers which fill into them from all dileSj and thus pro- duce tfiose intermitting motions V Mackenzie, who wrote in l789,t remarks: "A very curious phenomenon was observed at the Grand Portage, on Lake Superior, for which no obvious cause could be assigned. The water v/ithdrew v;ilh great pre- cipitation, leaving the ground dry, that had never before been visible — the fell being equal to four perpendicular feet — and rushing back with great velocity above the common mark. It continued thus rising and fuiliug for several hours, gradually decreasing until it stopped at its usual height." The following incident is related as having happened to Colonel Brad- street, who commanded an expedition .Igainst the western Indians iu 1764: " In returning by way of Lake Erie, when about to land the troops one evening, a sudden swell ot the lake, without any visible cause, de- stroyed several of his boats; but no lives were lost. Tiiis extraordinary event was looked upon as the precursor of a storm; and accordingly one soon occurred, which lasted several days." The following occurrence is related by Governor Clinton, in the memoir before referred to: "On the 30th of May, 1823, a little after sunset. Lake Erie, on the British side, was observed to take a sudden and extraordinary rise, the weather being fine and clear, and the lake calm and smooth. It was principally observed at the mouths of Otter and Kettle creeks, which are twenty miles apart. At Otter creek, it came in without the least previ- ous inthnation, in a swell of nine feet perpendicular height, as was after- wards ascertained, rushed violently up the channel, drove a schooner of 35 tons burden from her mooiiugs, threw her upon high ground, and rolledover the ordinary beach into the woods, completely inundating all of the adjacent flats. This was followed by two others of equal height, which caused the creek to retrograde a mile and a half, and to overflow its banks, where water never before was seen, by seven or eight feet. The noise occasioned by its rushing with such rapidity was truly astonishing- It was witnessed by a number of persons. "At Kettle creek, several persons were drawings fish net in the lake, when suddenly tliey saw the water coming upon them in the mannc- above described, and, letting go their net, they ran for their liv^s. The swell overlook tliem before they cou'ld reach the high bank, and swept them forward with grej.t force, but, being expert swimmers, they escaped unhurt. The man who was in the skiil" pulling in tlieaea-line wasdriveu with it a considerable distance over the flat, and grounded on a suiiil! eminence, where he remained until the water subsided. There wer three successive swells, as at Otter creek, and the eflects were the same, •Journal ITistorique d'un Voyage de i'Ameri|ua, LXlll. tVoyrtge to tlie Frozen and Pacific, O-^euni. W^' 50 with this iliffo Doc. No. 69. th( feet. In both the in torence: iho water rose nnly seven icet. in both oases, lake, after the swells had spent their force, gradually subsided, and about twenty rnitmtes was at its usual hcigtit and tranquillity,," In IS20, (jiovernor Cass instituted a series of t)bservations at the head of Green bay to dcterniine the changes in the water-level. These observa- tions extended from Ihe li'ith of July to the 3flth gf August; and the following are the results: "That the changes in the elevation of the xVaters are entirely too variable to be (raced to any regular, permatient cause; and that, conse|uently, there is no perceptible tide at Green bay, which is the result of observation. And such, il appears to me, is the result of calcu- lation, when the laws that regulate solar and lunar attraction, and the limited sphere of their operation, are taken into view."* Professor Mather, who observed the barometer at ('opjxjr Harbor during the i)revalence of one of these fluctuations, has published the results of his observations in the journalf before alluded to. Ho remarks: "As a general thing, fliictuations in the barometer accompanied the fluctuations in the level of the water; but sometimes the water lev^l varied rapidly in the harbor, while no' such variations occurred in the barometer at the place of observation. The variations in the Ifevel of the water may be caused by varied barometric pressure of the air on the water, either at the place of ohservation or at some distant points. A local increased pressure of the atmosphere at the place of obiservation Avould lower the water level where there is a wide expanse of water, or a diminished pressure noder the same circumstances would cause the water to rise above iis usual level." In the summer of 1834, an extraordinary retrocession of the waters took place at Saut Ste. Marie. The river here is nearly a mile in width, and the depth of water over the sandstone rapids is about two and a half feet. The phenomenon occurred about noon. The day was calm, but cloudy. The water retired suddenly, leaving the bed of the river bare, except for the distance of about twenty rods, where the channel is the deef>est, and remained so for the space of an hour. Persons went out arid caught fish in the pools formed in the depressions of the rocks. The return of the waters is represented to have been sudden, and presented an impo- sing spectacle. They came down like an immense surge — roaring and foaming; and those who had incautiously wandered into the riv^r-oed had barely time to escape being overwhelmed. Our informants were unable to state whether this occurrence was succeeded by a violent wind . or storm ; but they all concurred in representing the day as calm. A similar phenomenon occurred twice the same day, in the latter part ■ of April , ! 842. The lake wa- free from ice, and no wind was prevailing at the time. A few years previously — the precise period our informants -could not designate — the current between the foot of the rapids and Fort Brady, whicli usually flows at the rate of two and a half knots an hour, was obseiVed to set back, and the water rose two feet or more above the usual mark. Some of the soldiers at the fort, in order to satisfy themselves .as to the backward flow, jumped into a boat uud rowed into the stream, when they found that the boat floated towards the foot of the rapids. ^Remarks on the supposed tides and periodical rise and fall of the North American lakes, by Major (now Brigadier General) Henry Whiting, Silliman's Journal, vol 20, p. 2. See, also, a paper by General H. A. S. Deart>orn in the satne journal, vol 16. t Second series, vol. 6, July, 1848. I i mg t river, live Doc. No. 69. 51 Ij cases, the ed, and in >> • the head of rise observa- iist; and tlie •f tlio \Vaters cause; and iviiicli is the lit of calcu- on, and the irbor during lio results of irks: "As a ctuations in pidly in the the place of 3 caused by the place of ssure of the level where ler the same ivel." waters took 1 width, and 1 a half feet. but cloudy. )are, except he deepest, anid caught le return of d an impo- roaring and le river- oed iiants were ioleut wind Im. e latter part s prevaihng informants Is and Fort Dts an hour, e above the themselves the stream, the rapids. ;rican lakes, by These facts are given on the authority of Messrs^ Ashmun, Peck, and liingliam — old residents of Saut Ste. Marie. VVt! have witnessed numerous instances of these ebbings and flowings, which will serve to corroborate the above facts. In the month of August, 1816, while coasting in an open boat between Copper Harbor and Kagle river, we observed rhe water rise up, at a distance of a fourth of a mile to the northwest, to the height of twenty feet. It curled over like an immense surge, crested with foam, and swept towards the siiore, diminish- ing as it advanced. The voyageur.s paused on their oars, having first headed the boat so as to cut the advancing wave. It passed without doing us any injury, and sp6ntits force on the shore. It was succeeded by trtro or three swells of less magnitude, when the lake resumed its former tranquillity. The cause of this uplift was apparently local, and operated but for a few moments. It could not, like the hnrc at the mouth the Amazon, have been produced by opposing currents. It was late in tlie afternoon when this phenomenon was observed. The lake was calm; but to the northwest the clouds indicated that different currents of air were moving in opposite directions. Mirage was beautifully displayed, and imaginary islands were seen along the horizon. Wliile at Rock Harbor, Isle Royale, in the summer of 1817, we wit- nessed the ebbing and flowing of the water, recurring at intervals of fifteen or twenty minutes, during the entire afternoon. The variation was frotn twelve to twenty inches; and \\^ took advantage of their recession to catch some of the small lake fish which were loft in the pools. The day was calm and clear, but before the expiration of forty -eight hours a violent gale set in. Oa the 23d of July, 1848, we went from Copper Harbor to Eagle river, where we arrived in -the evening. The day had been calm— so much so, that we were unable to avail ourselves of our sail. In the evening there sprang up an off land breeze, but we observed a strong current setting in to the river from th<^ lake. The water rose and fell rapidly. The next day a storm ' aimenced and continued for four days. On the '>Vth of July, 1849, we were at Rock Harbor, Isle Royale. The wind WAS light, and a drizzling rain fell all day. The next day, how- ever, a heAvy northwester set in — so heavy, indeed, that the propeller then iving in the harbor did not venture out. On the opposite side of the laive, at Copper Harbor, (July 29,) the water was observed to fluctu- ate at intervals, varying from ten to twenty minutes, and rising higher and higher at each return, until the wharf, placed above the range of the highest stage, as was supposed, was overflowed, as well as the road lead- ing to the warehouse: This continued throughout the day. At Eagle river, twenty-five miles distant, the same fluctuations were observed. The wind, which was not heavy, came from off shore, and was therefore opposite to the current from the lake. The next day, as at Rock Harbor, there was a heavy blow from tlic nri|,hwest, the tendency of which would be to accumulate; the water on the south shore; but it did not rise as high as on the preceding day, when the wind came from an opposite quarter. These facts show conclusively that these swells, although they precede the winds, do not owe their origin to this source. This will appear more sati>5factorily by consulting a map as to the rela- tive position of the points above mentioned. Isle Royale is about 'M miles distant from the northern and western coast of Lake Superior. Cop- 52 Doc. No. 69. 1 'i' I], 1r m. ,. ' I W per Harbor is about Sp miles distant from Rock Harbor, in a south south- east direction. Thus, while these fluctuations were observed at the latter point, the storm had not struck the lake on the Canada side. Similar occurrences have been noted in other parts of the world. The fluctuations in the Lake of Geneva, which are there called seiches, un- doubtedly belong to the same class of phenomena. The intelligent traveller, Von Tschudi,* thus speaks of a singular phe- nomenon which has in later times often occurred at Callao, and which, in 1841, he had an opportunity of observing: "About two o'clock in the morning, the sea flowed from the shore with greater force than in the strongest ebb; the ships farthest out were left dry, which is never the case in ebb tide. The alarm of the inhabitants was great, when the sea instantly rushed back with increased force. Nothing could withstand its fury. Meanwhile, there was no commotion of the earth, nor any marked change in the temperature." The great wave frequently observed ofi" Cape Horn and the Cape of Good Hope by mariners may belong to the same class of phenomena. We have already given Charlevoix's theory to account for these flnc- tuatjpns. It may, be ingenious, but is not even probable. Governor Clinton was disposed to regard them as the result of earthquake move- ments. If so, a commotion of the land would have been noticed. The fdcts adduced seem to connect these phenomena with a disturbed state of the atmosphere, since they are, for the most part, succeeded by violent gales. Humboldt remarks that the regularity of hourly variations of the magnetic needle and the atmospheric pressure is undisturbed on earth- quake days within the tropics. Von Tschudi says, that in seventeen observations which he made during the earthquakes of Lima, with a good Lefevre barometer, he found, in fifteen instances, the position of the mer- cury quite unaltered. On one occasion, shortly before a commotion, he observed it 2.4 lities lower than it had been twenty-four hours before. Another time he observed, also on the approach of the shock, a remarka- ble rising and sinking. We may regard the earth as surrounded by two oceans — one aerial, the other aqueous. By the laws which regulate two fluids thus relatively situated, a local disturbance in the one would produce a corresponding- disturbance in the other. Every rise or fall of one-twentieth of an inch in the mercurial column would be attended with an elevation or depres- sion of the surface of the ocean equal to one inch.f Again, as has been remarked by De la Beche,| a sudden impulse given to the particles of water, either by suddenly increased or diminished pressure in the atmos- phere, would cause a perpendicular rise or fall, in the manner of a wave, beyond the height or depth strictly due to the mere weight itself. This «^:^^^■■ '^^ * Travels in Peru. t Whewell on Tides. i De la Bcclie, (Survey of Cornwall,) quotin|; from the innr.uscripti of Mr. Wallier, who has (IcToted much time to the observation of tides, says: '• He has found that chungeB in the heights of the water's surface, reaulting from changes in the pressure of the tumospliere, are often noticed on a good tide-gauge before the barometer gives notice of the change. * * * If lidi- gan^es at important dock-yarda show that a sudden change of sea-level has taken plate, indica- tive of suddenly decreased atmospheric weight, before the barometer hoe ^ivcn notice of such a change, all that time which elapses between the notices givnn by the tide-gauge and baromr- ler la so much gained ; and those engaged with shipping know the value of even a few mc- Bieat-i before the burst of an approaching hurricane." itith soiith- at the latter 3rld. The eiches, un-. ngular phe- sind which, lock in the than iu the s never the hen the sea withstand th, nor any the Cape of nomena. r these flnc- Governor uake move- ticed. The fbed state of d by violent itions of tlie ed on earth- n seventeen with a good of the Hier- imotion, he lOurs before. L a reniarka- |e aerial, the IS relatively [rresponding- of an inch In or depres- las has been particles of the atmos- of a wave, kself. This Doc. No. )69. 53 Wallisr, who IchwngeB in the shere, nre often » » If tid(.- place, imJicii- otice of such a c afid biironic- Ivcn a few mo- sudden impulse would give rise to a series of aqueous waves, which would propagate themselves from the centre of disturbance, like the cir- cles ' which are observed when a stone is cast into the water. These un- dulations are perceived in the liquid before the gale sets in. It is not to be expected that the oscillations in the barometer, in all instances, will correspond with those of the water; for Mr. Redfield has shpwji tha^t storms have sometimes been preceded by an unusual pressure of the at- mosphere, the barometer standing remarkably high, and hence he has in- fen'ed that there existed around the gale an accumulation of air, under a great degree of pi-«ssure, forming a margin. It may Aequently happen, that while the effects are perceived at tlw place of 'vbservation, the cause ma^ be for removed . Many persons who have resided on the borders of the lakes maintain that, aside from the annual variations in the height of their surfaces, there is a more extended one recurring at intervals varying from five to seven years, while others extend the period to fourteen. The greatest height of water heretofore obseirved is about six feet. The statistics which have been published* in reference to this rise indicate that the variations in the water-level in a series of years are considerable, but that they do not recur at regular intervals. The meteorological registers kept at various stations show that the annual amount of rain which falls over a given area is extremely variable. Thus, at Port Brady, where the mean of five years' observations isi^9.58 inches, the extremes are 36.92 and 22.44. Again, the season in the basin of Lake Superior may be rainy, while that in the region of the tributaries of the lower lakes may be dry, and I vice versa; and thus the lower lakes might be on the rise, while their tribu- taries failed to discharge their usual volume of water. In proof of this [diversity of humidity, it may be mentioned, that during the year 1848, an unusual quantity of rain fell in the basin of Lake Superior, and all of its Itribntaries were swollen. The lake was gradually rising when we left in ISeptember, and at that time had attained a point higher than had been lobserved for three years previously. On reaching Lake Michigan, in jOctoljer, we found that that lake began to be sensibly atfepted by the in- creased volume of water discharged through the St. Mary's river. On uriving at Cincinnati, the Ohio river was observed to be contracted to less than half its usual volume, so that only the smallest class of boats jould navigate its waters. If meteorological observations were kept at different stations extending through the entire region drained by the great lakes, it would undoubt- idly be found that the variations in the water level corresponded with tlie /^ariable amount of rain over that area.f A larger portion of the tributaries of Lake Superior have their origin in region covered for two-thirds of the year with ice and snow, La;e ia Ijlay the icy fetters are unloosed, and the lake commences rising, and con- inues to rise until the last of September, when it attains its maximum "Vide the memoir of Gover.";or Giiraon before referred to ; Michigan Gaological Reporis; |hio Geological Reports, 18:i8. f The surface of Lake Superior, on the 12ih of August, iS4D, was 23^ iiirhes higher thiui ia Uy, 1847. H 54 Doc. No. 69. m 1 ': It then recedes gradually until the streams begin to discharge their spring floods. Snow usually commences falling as early as the middle of October," and the ground is covered before the frost has penetrated to a great depth. The amount of snow during the season has been represented as hijiti as thirty«feQl; but, in consequence of its evaporation, and its change from a crystalline to a granular form, known as tuve.it settles, and the actual depth on the ground rarely exceeds four feet. Trappers, in crossing the inland lakes in midwinter, bft^u break through, so slight and unstable is the covering. The temperature of the water of I^ake Superior during the summer, a fathom or two below the surface, is but a few degrees above *the freezing point. The following observations show the temperature of the water at different times in different parts of the lake. In the western poriion, the water is colder than in the eastern — the surface flow becoming warmer as it advances towards the outlet. The water in these experiments was taken from the surface. .... i ' If . ii -^s;. • > ! . , ;;/-VC''- •..■■■.■■ff- ■i.V U? June 30, 1849.— To the south of Caribou Island - July 8, 1849.— In Sand Bay - July 28, 1849. — Between Keweenaw Point and Isle Royale - - - Aug. 13, 1849. — Midway in Keweenaw Bay Fahrenheit. Water. 370.0 37°., 5 39°. 5 49°. Air. 43°. 5 1 52\0\ 45°. 0! During the severe winters, the surface of the lake becomes congealed When a gale sets in, the ice is seen to undulate and break, and the water to gush through the fissures, until finally the whole mass is set in motion—^ the fragments clashing against one another, accompanied by loud reports, like volleys of musketry. Long parallel ridges of ice, fifteen or twenty feet in height, are piled up along the shores. We can readily conceive how masses of rock thus entangled might be carried for considerable dis- tances when the ice becomes detached and floats off, and how a cliff might be scratched and grooved. The waters ot the lake possess great transparency, and a tin cup may be seen to the depth often fathoms. Coasting along the shores in a caliiil sunlight day, and looking over the gunwale of the boat, the voyageur^ seems to be suspended over the floor of the lake, and every fissure in tiiei rock, and every glittering pebble is revealed with wonderful clearness, The light streaming through the transparent medium tinges every object with a brilliant hue. < The evaporation from the surfaces of the lakes must be immense. The combined area of Liikes Superior, Huron, Michigan, and Erie is about 87,UUU square miles, and of their basins not less than 335,515 square miles. I Doc. No. 69. 55 -*'; je their spring f October," and I great depth, ted as hi^n as change from a and the actual n crossing the ind unstable is ; the summer, 3es above *the temperature of In the western flow becoming se experiments Fahrenheit. ter. °.5 °.5 °.0 Air. 43°. 5 62^0 45°. Oi mes congealed.! .and the water | set in motion— ly loud reports, teen or twenty I eadily conceivej onsiderable dis- owacUff migblj a tin cup mayl hores in a calraj t, the voyageuTf ry fissure in tlie. erful clearness. ges every object immense. Th; Erie is about 335^515 s^quure It has been estimated that the quantity of water passing into the Niagara river at Black Rock is 22,440,000 cubic feet per minute, or about 80^ cubic miles per annum.* This is equivalent to fifteen inches perpen- dicular depth of water spread over the area of the whole country drained. The annual amount of rain which falls within this area is about thirty inches. One-half, therefore,, of the water which falls within the basin of the upper St. Lawrence is taken up by evaporation, amounting to 11,800,000,000,000 cubic feet.f At Saiit Ste. Marie, the outlet of Lake Superior, the spectator beholds a river nearly a mile in width, and of sufficient deptli to float the largest vessel. In its onward progress, it winds among innumerable islands, and ultimately discharges itself, by several mouths, into Lake Huron. At Fort Gratiot, he sees the same river, under another name, after having re- ceived all of the tributaries of Micljigan and Huron, contracted to a width of little more than three hundred yards, but of increased depth, and he finds it difficult to realize that it is the same river which he saw- three hun- dred miles above. So, too, the voyageur who has coasted around Lake Superior and gauged the streams which pour their annual floods into the great reservoir, when he stands on the brmk of Niagara, and witnesses the fearful plunge of the cataract, is induced to inquire what has become of the superfluous water. The difference between the temperature of the air and the lalie gives rise to a variety of optical illusions, known as lairage. Mountains are seen with inverted cones; headlands project from the shore where none exist; islands, clothed with verdure or girt with cliffs, rise up from the bosom of the lake, remain a while, and disappear. In approaching Ke- weenaw Point, Mount Houghton is the first object to greet the eye of the mariner. Its dome-shaped summit serves as a landmark to guide him in his course. Once or twice, in peculiar stages of the atmosphere, we have observed its summit inverted in the sky long before the mountain Itself was visible. On the north shore, during the summer months, hardly a day passes Without witnessing illusions of this kind. The Faps, two elevated moun tains near the entrance of Neepigon bay, would at one time appear like hour-glasses, and at another like craters, belching forth long columns of smoke, which gradually settled around their cones. Thunder cape assumed shapes equally grotesque: at one time resem- bling a huge anvil with its handle projectmg over the lake, at another it appeared as though traversed from summit to base by an immense fissure. These phenomena are more cofnmon on the lakes than on the Atlantic coast, since hardly a day passes during the summer without a more or less striking exhibition of this kind . The amount of refraction , dependent on the state of the atmosphere, is, during the greater part of the summer, extraordinarily variable. The greatest difficulty is experienced in making astronomical observations, from this cause. . (Observations taken in the afternoon, and generally during the night, are almost invariably worthless. The varying refraction may often be noticed in meridian observulions of •Vide M. Z. Allen's sfticle in Si!!:!j)ar,'s Jnurnai, Junuary, io44. t Dalton found that an evaporating surf.ice of six in.-hes >ieldcd in calm, dry air, at 65» Fuhr., 2.62 grains of vapor per minute, and 4.12 in a high wind. \ - .. ■ . l!i£tl) lie Doc. No. 69. Fig- 9. the sun with the artificial horizon, when the two images will he seen to lap oiyry; and the largely crystalline and feldspatic varieties are known as sienitic. These and many other varieties occur abundantly throughout the dis- trict, in belts imposed one upon another. Their position and the changes they have caused in the contiguous detrital rocks will be noticed in de- scribing the detailed geology. liange and extent. — Commencing at the head of Keweenaw Point, we find the trappei,in rocks, with the asso«Mated conglomerates, emerging to the surface in bold stair-like cliffs, affording many scenes of wild and picturesque beauty. This peculiar physiognomy is characteristic of the whole trap region. Humboldt long ago remarked that each zone had its particular types of animal and vegetable life, but that the inorganic crust of the globe showed itself independent of climatic influences. Every whore, ba,"Ut rises in twin mountains and truncated cones; everywhere porphy- i' it 'I v li V 60 Doc. No. 69. 1 ' l:* ritic trap appears in grotesquely arranged masses, and granite in rouhded summits.* The outer belt of trap, occupying the extreme northern portion of Keweenaw Point, (see map,) is less than a mile in width, and preserves a great degree of uniformity ihrouchout its entire course. It forms a seg- ment of a circle, of which the Bohemian mountains may be regarded as the centre. The southern points of Manilou island are dotted with patches of this igneous rock, while the greater portion of the belt has crumbled beneath the action of the lake surf. From the extremity of Keweenaw Point, it extends westerly for about eighteen milts in a curvi- linear direction, and passes into the lake at the eastern point of Sand bay. Throughout most of this distance it is protected from the action of the surf by a thick belt of Conglomerate, but at several points the water has broken through this sea-wall and excayated spacious harbors in the igne- ous belt. Copper, Agate, Grand Marais, and Eagle Harb'^rsare included in this belt, and owe their origin to a common cause. This belt is compose! of the varieties of igneous rock known as amyg- daloid and brown gianular trap. The amygdaloid is best developed in the upper portion of tlie belt, where it comes in contact with the conglom- erate, presenting a dark scoriaceous mass, full of vesicles, somewhat compressed, and bearing a close resemblance to certain modern volcanic products. These vesicles are, for the most part, filled with carbonate of lime, clilorite, agates, caitielians, and amethysts, and minerals of the zeolite family. As we penetrate deeper into the belt, the vesicular structure dis- appears, and the rock passes into a dark brown granular trap, consisting of an intimate union of hornblende and labrador. 1'his is its general character; and to cite the numerous places where it has been observed, would be to encumber the report with unnecessary detail. This belt is traversed by veins containing copper and silver, several of which have been mined ^ but in every instance unsuccessfully. At Eagle Harbor, a company wrought a vein, which, for a time, yielded a rich per centage of copper. Between 5,000 and G,000 pounds were taken from the vein within a comparatively limited space; but as the miners sank deeper, tlie copper disappeared. The range of the vein was limited on the south by the conglomerate, and on the north by the lake. At the surface it was two feet in width, and filled in with luumonite and native copper. The shaft was commenced about two hundred feet north ot the junction of the rocks, and extended to the depth of winety seven feet. At that depth the vein had contracted to three inches, and was barren of copper. The best mining-ground is undoubtedly beneatli the bed of the lake; but to reach it woulcl require a deep shaft, a long gallery, and aii expensive apparatus for ventilation. The company were not disposed to embark in an undertaking, the labor of which was certain, while success was precarious. Several other veins in the northern range were explored by the oiniipany, with no better results. At Huwes's island, near Agate Harbor, a vein was opened by the Cy- press River Company, which yielded rich specimens of copper and silver, but, in the downward progress, they disappeared. Witii a single exception, (northwest quarter of section 58, range .'JO.) we have excluded every tmct wittiin this belt' from the list of mineral hinds, believing that it contains no veins which will be permanently produciive. * Aspects ol' Nature, Vol; II. Doc. No. 69. 61 granite in rouhded northern portion of dth, and preserves a se. It forms a seg- may be regarded as id are dotted with tion of tlie belt has m the extremity of sen milts in a curvi- i point of Sand bay. m the action of the )oints the water has harbors in the igne- rborsare included in )ck known as arnyg- j best developed in :t with the conglom- vesicles, somewhat lin modern volcanic !d with carbonate of linerals of the zeolite licular structure dis- ar trap, consisting of ts general character; erved, would be to is nd silver, several of sfuUy. At Eagle yielded a rich per were taken fromr as the miners sank Bin was limited on the lake. At the imonite and native d feet north ot the ♦linety seven feet, md was barren of ath the bed of the ng gallery, and ari re not disposed to ain, while success ige were explored )pened by the Cy- copper and silver, 58, range .30.) we I of mineral lands, liently produciive. To the west of Sand bay about ten miles, and north of the first trap- pean range, narrow belts of trap have been observed in two places, to wit: on section 28, township 58, range 32; and on sections 1 and 6, between ranges 32 and 33, township 67. The nature of the ground is such that tliey can be traced but a short distance inland. Whether they are a pro- longation of the belt just described, or detached, intercalated masses, it is impossible to determine. The character of the rock is highly amygdaloi- dalj and chlorite enters largely into its composition. Imperfect indications of veins exist, one of which was explored by the Lalce Shore Mining Company yielding little or no copper. In the mor* compact varieties, a concretionary structure is sometimes observalble. Parallel bands of different colors, a few inches in width> traverse the mass in waving lines, or are arranged in circular forms. This same arrangement is seen more strikingly illustrated in the trap on Hays's Point, near Copper Harbor. The direction and arrangement of these lines is illustrated in . . . Fij.3, [the above wood cut This structur'^ is occasionally found in all igneous Irocks, and undoubtedly results from chemical affinity, by which the par- |ticles assume a concretionary arrangement. About a mile south of this trap belt, and separated from it by a deposit [of conglomerate and coarse sandstone, which, in places, expands to a [thickness of more than 3,0(0 feet, occurs the northern trap range of jKevyeenaw Point. It- will be seen, by inspecting the map, that these two Ibelts of igneous rocks, in thsir westerly prolongation, preserve a remaik- ible parallelism. This range does not appear to have been the result of one, but of suc- lessive overflows; for we not only find the igneous materials arranged in Dafallel bands, and exhibiting great diversity in external characters, but Rve also find numerous intercalations of conglomerate of inconsiderable thickness, but extending for miles in a linear direction — these mixed pro- lucts being associated in regular beds, having a common bearing and Inclination, so that the' inexperienced observer is inclined to refer the ^hole to a common origin. This deception is still further increased by )bserving hues of pseudo stratification in the trap conforaiing to tliose )f the associated sedimentary rocks.* This range starts from the liead of Keweenaw Point, below Manitou Island, and, sweeping round in a crescent form nearly conforming to the f^Brend of the coast, crosses the western arm of Portage -lake, where it || "This pseudo-Stratification has been observed by De la Rijche in the granite of Curnwaii, Ind iR supposed by hiiii io result from a tendency in' the materjuls of a cooling mass to arrange ^ jbemstlvea in beds, particularly near the surface.— Geoiogj/ of Oornwall. 62 Doc. No. 69. A '■,i f! J. j( '1. it: seems to lose its distinctive character. Towards the valley of the Little Montreal river, it crops out in bare precipitous cliffs; but the northwestern slope is gentle, the rock rarely emerging to the surface. The following are the elevations of this range at different points, as ap- proximatively determined by the barometer: On section 13, township 68, range 28, 467 feet. On the line between sections 15 and 16, township .58, range 29, about three miles inland from Grand Marais Harbor, 730 feet. Between the Copper Falls and the Northwestern mines, section 24, town- ship 58, range 31 , 630 feet. This range skirts the valley of Eagle river on the west, and rises in overhanging cliffs to the height of two or three hundred feet. The Albion cliff, near the northwest qu^er of section 10, township 57, range 32, may be regarded as 'the culmniatinj^ ])oint, attai'servati(>ri, the upper portions of these sandstone belts are much more changed by heat than the lower — an important fact, which will be considered in" discussing the origin of these rocks and their mode ftf for- nation. The sandstone, where thus exposed, presents a compact texture, breaks with a nnging sound and a conchoidal fractuire, and exhibits many of ihe external characters of jasper. • It is traversed by numerous divisional >lanes, which are quite as distinct as the original lines of bedding. The orkings of the Copper Falls Company are in the 436-foot beft. Between the mouth of Eagle river and the Phcenix Company's works, ileven of these belts, thus intercalated, are noticed within the distance of mile. Beyond the Albion range those belts cannot be traced, the rocks i^ I i ! I! 64 Dbic. No. 69. being no longer exposed in bare ledges, but covered beneath •accumula- tions of sand, gravel, and clay. The trap beds thus intercalated are amygdnlnidal or granular, bi:t nn their upper portions often exliibit a brecciatcd appearance. Tliey afford numerous examples of veins yielding native copper and silver, but do not expand to a sufficient width to allow extended subterranean workings. The upper portion of the crystalline belt described as occurring in range 28, township 68, and thence traced through the intervening townships •west, is exposed a few rods south of the upper shaft at the PhoMiix mine. Here thf feldspar predominates over the hornblende, giving the rock a light color. The vein is observed to be disturbed and otherwise affected as it approaches this mass. The Albion range is capped with this rock, which appears in abrupt precipices two or three hundred feet in height. At the Cliff mijie, the upper portion of the precipice is composed of a dark crystalline green- stone — the hornblende largely predominating, which exhibits a mottled or varioloid appearance. At the Albion mine the feldspar again predomi- nates, and the rock becomes in some degree porphyritic. Beneath this is a bed of chlorite rock of a slaty structure, varying in thickness from six to ten feet, below which we nn ujth a belt of amygdaloid and gran- ular trap. Proceeding along the treii. of the Albion range in a south- westerly direction, the amygdaloid is found to dip beneath the surface. At the Cliff mine it is struck near the base of the precipice; but at the Albion mine, three miles distant, it is reached at the depth of ninety seven feet. This belt, the position and rans^e of which we have endeavored to de- lineate, is the most metalliferous of any on Keweenaw Point. Throughout its entire extent, it seems to be characterized by well-defined veins. In it are situated the Cliff, North An)erican, Albion, Northwest, and North- western mines; and it is reasonable to suppose that others equally valuable will be developed along the line of its outcrop. ' t^outhern trap range. — Returning to the head of Keweenaw Point, we find' another range of trap, forming the souiliern boundary of the \-alley of the Little Montreal river, and stretching westerly in a line nearly par- allel with the northern chain. This is known as the Bohemian range, and differs from the northern both in lithological character and in the mode of its occurrence. . While the former, before described, is composed of nu- merous beds of trap, in the main of the amygdaloid and granular varieties, interstratified with the detrital rocks, the southern range consists of avast crystalline mass, forming an anticlinal axis, flanked on the north by the bedded trap and conglomerate, and on the south by conglomerate and sandstone. The contour of the unbedded trap is also very different from that of the bedded trap. We nowhere recognise the stair like structure in the hills; they are enher dome-shaped or rounded. The protrusion of so vast a mass of heated matter has changed in a marked deeree the associated sedimentary rocks, causing thorn to resemble igneous products. Thus, on section 30, township 58, range 27, by tho lake shore, is seen a metamorphosed sar.dstone resembling jasiper. Its general bearing is east and west. In places it assumes a vesicular appear- ance, while otiier portions are brecciated, and take into their cojriposition chloriic and feldspar, in some hard specimens the lines of stratification can be recognised. The mass is about 100 feet thick; and surmounted by Doc. No. 69. e5 ith 'accumula- dternating bands of porphyry and a chlorite rock known as rotten trap, which may be regarded as a volcanic a«h. Theae veins attain a thickness of only a few feet. Proroeding along the southern coast of Keweenaw Point in a westerly direction, at the old fish station (section 35) we again observe this metamorphosed rock forming one of the jutting points of tne bay; but here it assumes a different character, as though it had been subjected to a heat more intense and longer continued. All traces of stratification have disappeared, and the rock has become transformed into a red, compact jasper, breaking with a conchoidal fracture, and traversed by numerous divisional planes. Where it comes in coi.tact with the trap below it pre- sents a homogeneous texture. All traces of its mechanical origin are obliterated, and it is difficult to determine where the igneous rock ceases and the aqueous begins. In section 30, township 68, range 27, west of the Little Montreal river, it is seen again on the coast. The Dure Hills here approach the coast and rise up in overhanging cliffs to the height of 80 fc^t, and jasper appears to be the prevailing rock. From this point it c?n be traced inland in a westerly direction, through sections 29 and 30, in the same township and range, to the west line of section 24, township 58, range 29, expand- ing to a width of about half a mile. The west line '' this se-tion passes , over Mt. Houghton, an isolated and dome-shaped mountain, ising to the height of 884 feet above the lake, and forming the culmir ■ ng point in this portion of the region. Its summit is jasper for the c stance of 150 feet, and it is difficult to trace any \ ell-characteriz'- 1 ''Tiesof stratificcuion in the mass. On the southern flank the mass appai 'iiitl/ dips to the S8 W. On the northern slope a perpendicular ledge, 20 feet in height, is observed, dipping slightly to the east; to the northeast two low ridges of jasper are seen bearing nearly east and west, and connecting with the Bare Hills by the lake shore. The rock is extremely fissile — so much so, that it is dif- ficult to procure good specimens. In tracing it west, it gradually passes into a compact trap, with here and there an alraoud-shaped cavity, filled with quartz or calc-spar. This rock we suppose originally to have been sandstone, and the peculiarities which we have described to have resulted from contact with the mass of trap beneath. Unsuccessful attempts at mining near the summit of this mountain were made by the Alliance Company Near Lac la Belle the Bohemian ; .;- ; , attains the height of 864 feet; at its base, and between the irappean anu detrital rocks, is a belt of chlorite in foliated masses which expands to about 160 feet in thickness. The occurrence of a bed or mass of thir mineral between trap and sandstone is not unfrequently observed in this district. The lower -portion of the ele- vation is here made up of a peculiar rock composed of chlorite and labrador in nearly eqiuil proportions. These two minerals are each in a distinctly crystalline condition, and the feldspathic portion is of a light reddish color. The mass is filled irregularly with crystals of magnetic iron ore, wlfich occasionally form a large portion of the rock. Particles of copper pyrites are also scattered through it. This variety of rock seems to pass gradu^ ally into the dark colored, fine grainedi greenstone which occurs on the summitof the mountain. •.™ ^ Doe. No. 69. '>ll The following section, from Copper Harbor to Lac la Belle, exhibits not only the contours of the country, but the relative association of the detrital rocks and the bedded and unbedded trap : Pig. 5. grow P HP I •'/ :.n' ' Copper harbor. . Brock way's mount. 421. North trap range. 586. Littte Montreal river. Sd4. The Bohemian range, as before remarked, forms the line of upheaval of the bedded trap and conglomerate on the north, and the conglomerate and sandstone on the south^ The conglomerate, north of the axis of elevation, rarely attains a greater inclination than 45°; but on the southern slope, the sandstone is observed dipping at an angle of 78'. This is beautifully ex- hibited by the lake shore, on section 36, township 58, range 29. The sandstone is seen in the bottom of the bay, composed' of alternating bards of white and red, sweeping round in curves, conformable to the course of the trappean rocks. As we recede a few miles to the south, the strata are observed to be nearly horizontal. la the two adjoining townships west, this< range preserves its distinctive characterj' but beyond, it sinks down into sloping" hills two or three hundred feet in height. It exhibits some lithological changes in its course : thus, at the Suffolk mine, now abandoned, (section 16, township 57, range 31,) the rock beconies beautifully porphyritic — crystals of red labrador are scattered through a dark feldspathic base, with sulphuret of copper disseminated in irregular masses. ' .r i\ir This range, like the northern one, is traversed by veins for the most part at right angles to the direction of the forma- tion; but, unlike the veins of the northern range, they yield the sw^Awrcfs of copj)er, instead of native copper. The only mines now wrought are the Bohemian and Lac la Belle, which will be particularly described under another head. Numerous explorations have been made along the southern boundary of the trap, but in no instance successfully. The abandoned mines are in- dicated by an appropriate symbol on the accompanying map. The fissiie chlorite rock described as occurring at the base of the Bo- hemian mountain is found to continue almost uninterniptedly to Portage lake, and always preserving the same relation to the trap and sandstone. The prevailing color is green, but in places it acquires a reddish tinge, The trap, however, in the lower part of township 57, range 33, assimilates more to that of the northern range. At the Forsyth Company's works, (section 33,) a band of greenstone is observed forming the crown of ihe hill, with amygdaloid resting beneath. In the adjoining township south, the is seen to occupy low parallel ridges, and is exposed in the beds of Bohemian 864. mount. Lac La Belle. trap lelle, exhibits ciation of the fore remarked, f the bedded le north, and sfone on the north of the lins a greater 1 the southern ired dipping at jautifully ex- 1 section 36, ; sandstone is ly, composed lite and red, onformable to icks. As we ith, the strata mzontal. In »s west, this ve character J into sloping^ et in height, ihanges in its mine, now )wnship 67, s beautifully labrador are spathic baso, seminated in lern one, is nost part at f the forma- the northern ts of copper, e Bohemian lother head. x)undary of lines are in- of the Bo- to Portage sandstone, dish tinge, assimilates y's works, of the hill, south, the the beds of Doc. T^o. k^. *i4 67 \\ie water- courses. Much of it is amygdaloidal, intermixed with the greenish and rcddish fissile rock before described. Indications of copper exist, but the veins are not well defined. [ In the southwest quarter of section 8, the Trap Rock Company perforated the rock to the depth of seventy ieet, th«|n drifted sixty-six feet from the vein for the purpose of discovery. The veinstone here consisted of small strings jf quartz, calc spar, and chlorite, arranged in parallel layers, to the width often inches, with some copper disseminated; but the indica- tions were not sufficiently encouraging to induce them to continue the work. This vein ranges and dips with 'he formation — its course being north 50*> east; inclination to the northwejit 6(»°. On the southeast quarter of section 19, township 56, range 32, are the abandoned works of the New York and Michigan Company. Their exploitations were prosecuted on the left bank of a small stream, near the junction of the trap and sandstone. 1'he trap here consists of the reddish and greenish chlorite rock, with imbedded amygdaloid. The surface exhibits fjew indications of a vein; but, according to the report of Messrs. Grout & Douglass, who explored this location, native copper was found in the small veins and adjoining fissures. A drift was extended 45 feet into the rock; a sluxft was also sunk on the opposite bank to the depth of 18 feet, intersecting a belt of the green rock, according to the above au- thority, highly charged with copper. Altiiongh the workmen met with much to encourage, they did not succeed in developing a valuable vein. On one of the aflluents of Torch river, (section 36, township 36, range 33,) the junction of the trap is beautifully displayed. The stream ia precipitated over a wall of trap 80 feet in height, and thence winds its way thri^gh a deep gorge which it has excavated in the sandstone. The conglomerate differs from the lenticular bands described as occurring with the bedded trap, consisting of arenaceous particles loosely aggregated, and containing, near the base, quartzose pebbles. Patches of green and red ochrey clay occur in different parts of the mass, in a concretionary form. The red and green chlorite rock, fissile, but not stratified, enveloping masses of amygdaloid, is seen on the left bank of the s.ream, traversed by seams of quartz and calc-spar, underlying to the NW. 50°. Above this the rock is greenstone, presenting a wall-like appearance, and rising ia overhanging cliffs. The precipice was perforated with a gallery, where the quartz seams are observed near its base, to the distance of one hundred feet. Several seams were crossed in the progress of the work which yielded native cop- per, but nowhere did the vein concentrate with sufficient power and rich- ness to warrant the expenditure of much capital. This work was prose- cuted by the Douglass Houghton Mining Company, under the direciion of Messrs. Grout & Douglass, and their report to the company contains a detailed account of their explorations and the character of the rocks. The trap in this vicinity lias not that firmness and liveliness of color which belong to the truly metalliferous belts. Evidences of copper exist in the shape of small strings and leaders, but they nowhere concentrate and form what minevs call a "champion lode." The Quincy mine, (section 26, township 55, range 34,) near the west arm of Portage lake, affords as good a prospect for mining enterprise as :i t. 68 Doc. No. I ' 'Hi' |l .:i I tip . t i any which we have observed in this vicinity, although this cannot be re- garded as among the best mining-ground. The rode here consists of a dark-brown chlorite trap, with beds of amygdaloid. Between the junction of these rocks native copper is ob- served in sheets, and disseminaited in a vein-stone of .calc-spar and chlo- rite. The vfeins, or rather the main lodes, range and dip with the lormation, and send off branches at nearly right angles. The culminating point of the trap here does not exceed 400 feet. The northern flank is covered with detritus, and the rock at rare intervals emerges to the surface. Hence there is really a small portion of the trap range in this vicinity which is adapted to mining. In the region of Portage lake, the shock by which the bedded trap and conglomerate were elevated does not appear to have been attended with the protrusion of vast crystalline masses, forming a long range, like the Bohemian mountains, or rounded groups, as in the vicinity of the Onton- agon, but simply to have caused a vertical dislocation, lifting up the beds on one side of the fissure, while the corresponding beds on the Fig. 6. opposite side remained comparatively undiisf- turbed. There can be rio doubt that there existed a deeply- seated and powerful fissure, extending from the head of Keweenaw Point to the western limits of the district, along the line of which the volcanic forces 'were, at different times, powerfully exerted — similar in character to those in Guatemala, Peru, and Java — the seats of modern volcanic actloa. The only instance observed in this part of the district, of trap occur- ring remote from the line of the fissur-.? is in the northest corner of town- ship 49, range 36, fourteen miles t-outhwest of the head of Keweenaw bay. It is known as Silver mountain, {Ivcus a von lucendo,) which rises up isolated and dome -shaped to the height of a thousand feet, and occupies an area equal to three sections. The surrounding plain is covered with deep deposites of clay, resting on sandstone, in nearly hori- zontal strata. The rock on the summit of the mountain consists of labra- dor and hornblende, the former largely predominating, and arranged in dis- tinct crystals, with nodules of quartz and chalcedony scattered through the mass. The flanks of the mountain exhibit nearly the same Jitho- logical characters. Mining operations were prosecuted there a few years since by the National Company. The hill was perforated by a gallery to the distance of one hundred feet, along the course of a fissure, dipping 63° to the northwest. The attle which lay about the opening was mi- nutely examined, but we failed to detect any traces of copper; nor did the appearance of the wall-rock or the fissure alFord any well founded hopes of the presence of metalliferous depowites. The rofek at the entrance of the adit appears to have been broken by the elevatory movement, or suc- cessive movements, to which the mass had been subjected; for we found the enclosing walls, ground and polished. In other places rounded fragments of the wall-rock were iiicludeu in the fissure. Near the mouth of the adit the rock was compact, but, on penetrating further, it became highly crystalline. Scoriae and amygdaloidal patches were . observed J)gc. J^o, Ot. 69 lannot be re- le tonnation^ ia the fissure, as though they had been injected after the upheaval of the mass. Near the summit a dike is seen pursuing a zig-zag direction. Boulders of granite a foot in diameter and fragments of sandstone are strewn over the summits. Deep grooves and scratches, bearing north 20° east, are seen in this firm and crystalline rock. Although this is the only instance observed of the protrusion of the igneous rocks through the sedimeniary strata in this vicinity, yet evidences of volcanic disturbance exist; .ind we have reason to believe that erup- tive masses have approached near the surface, without breaking through the exterior crust. Thus, about one-halfof amile from the southern boundary of township 50, a conical knob of sandstone, having a quaquaversal dip, is observed^ the strata being much fractured %nd disturbed. These explorations ^ere conducted by Mr. HiJil. ,...,,,,,„ . IIANGE OP THE TRAP BKTWEEN PORTAGE LAKE AND THE MONTREAL ;■: y.\ t\ ■-'.■■:.. RIVER. ,>.,,-.' .- ^ .', External ckaracte s. — Between Portage lake and the Fire-Steel river, the trappean rocks are less distinctly marked than on Keweenaw Point. They appear in rounded groups, rather than in parallel chains; but be- yond this point they again rise in bold cliffs, which attain an eleva- tion of nearly fourteen hundred feet near Agogebic lake, when they again sink down into a nearly level plain, with an occasional isolated knob. This is their character between the last-mentioned point and the Montreal river. T}ion. At the Douglass Hoii«hton mire, four miles southwest, the trap appears in numerous knobs and short broken ridges, and affords good mining-ground. Masses of vein- j stone, consisting of quartz colored rose-red by the sub-oxide of copper, are found in the streams, indicating the proximity of veins. On section 16, township 51, range ' ■ ^ this company have ernlored an east-ahd-west I vein which promises to yield a profitabl- return. The rock '" a dark- j colored, compact trapf, occasionally amygualoidal, traversed bv • mierous [joints, the intervening spaces of variable width, being occupieu uy quartz arid calc spar. A detailed description of the works will be found undir the head of Mines. On the neighboring section, 21, the New York and Michigan Company i have made merely surface explorations. There are here two well-defined jand abrupt ranges of trap crossing the line between sections 16 and 21, I in which several veins of metallic copper and blue carbonate of copper !4)dc^r#9» Tipy. !H is a ti&p kiioh which rise* to the heigh' of 660 feet — the most elev ted jx. nt in the av «^diate Yirin«- ity. On th-'. line between 39 ar^ 30 th grcninv' vo '»unv> Jn > d33 fjet. The trap heve is amyf daloidal, vith few mdicatioii* of ccp|xr. In the adjv:)iDing towiuuiip wejt (towi*. hip 51, range 38) the trap rises in broken ridyes to the b' iqht of J CO f^et above the surrounding cduntry, presenting murat faces to ire south. It cojijsists for the most pjirt of hard, -crysialline greenstone, and is traversed by ftum«Tnus zonv rnpcaneous lissures, which are fiHed wi^h .juart:' and calc^spac, ayd contain copper, 4i3seriJiiated, and in masses wftghi'ig 15 an.'. ^'^ pounds. Wo saw in stfie no.*hern portion of the belt p o w !!-defti2<»d vtot-y enuU altogether, the charficver of the rock is unravcrable for miui^,^.^ Tlvi) epidctg and quartz are occasionally observed in beds, associated .ml'-, iiative ropper, having a course and dip corresponding with the ad - 'Jiif* nt >i,mtified rocks. 'i'he Aid i'enturers' Mining Company and the Ridge Mining Company are jooated b\ this townships— the former on the southeast quarter of section 25; the latter oij the south v,reat quarter of the same section. In the southwest quarter of sectioii 2!5 a vein was observed in a ridge which extends across that qtiarter section, bearing north 66° east, and dipping to the northwest 45°. The veinstone was prehnite and calc spar, and contained traces of native coppej. The foreign matter would not ex. eeed one foot in width » but the brecciaied rock occupied three feet. The Aztec Company are also working a small force in the southeast quarter of section 25, in this township. In the southeastern portion of this township the rock appears more favorable for metals, but the explora* tions have not been carried sufficiently far to develop the true character of the veins* The trap range in the adjoining township southwest is highly metal- liferous — as much so as any in this portion of the district. Township 50, rmiige 39. — As this is an interesting township in regard (to its topographical features*, and one in which perhaps mor® mining and exploring have been done than in any other, we will '^iv© a somewhat general description of its geology and topography betore entering into a particular description of the several explorations and attempts at mining Mrliich have been nmde. The Ontonagon river runs diagdiially across the Uiwnship in a winding course, separating it into two unequal portions*. The three main branches of the stream died respectively the East, West, and Middle forks, unite in sections "T jfid 28, and form a bron ? river which, however, is mucii broken by "^ «?, and can only be ascended ' ^ boats forced up against the current • v • .dng poles. The banks of liici WftiT i -8 generally of red clay, . .r^- les rising one hundred feet above (!> ravines, commonly ca'i'od "hog. rnany times in the course of a ttiile. :'. bborious and vexatious. Tha trap j in ' im, ana worn mto pre >; hacks, ' which succeed each o>..i. • To travel over them is a task at ot I Doe. No. BO. m (THinge f>riters the township at the northeast comer, and pursues nearly a jDorthea^ and southwest direction diagonalljr through it. On the east find vest line of section l2, there are two distinct ridges: the northernmoet jind highest is 736 ieet above the lake, at the point of intersection. These ridges continue tolerably distinct and parallel in direction nearly to the Ontonagon^ when they gradually bredc off; and where the river outs through the range no rock is seen in place, but high clay banks hem in the channel. The terminating knobs of these ridges are con- lepictioua objects from a distance, and are known as the ''Three Brothers.'* The North and Middle Brothers are the proper terminations of the two Earallel ridges ; but the South Brother is a spur of the southern ridge. The eightof the Middle Brotlier above the lake is 758 feet; the other knobs iCkod ridges in the township are from 650 to 670 feet. From the summit of the northern ridge the ground verges very iffradually to the lake, there being no other breaks than ravines worn By running water. South of the trap range there is a beautiful level :p[ateau of land, finely timbered with maple ai^d hemlock; then succeeds •a broken and uneven country, intersected by numerous gullies. In .the buds of the streams sandstone may be seen in place occasionally, .though they are naostly excavuteid in red clay. The current is generally ;6luggish. The west branch of the Ontonago^n flows along the line of junction between the sandstone on the south and the trap on the north; ;and it was oo the left bank of this stream, near the water's edge, in sec- lion 31, of this township, that the faipaous " copper rock," now at Wash- ington, was found. To facilitate its removal, a road was constructed ;to the main bnanch of the river on section 20, which is known as the " Copper-rock mad." The trap is flanked on the north by a belt of conglomerate which bears urest- southwest, and occupies a width of one-fourth of a mile. Numerous alternating bands of igneous and aqueous rocks are observed in this township, or rather in the northern portion of it. The trap ranges differ somewhat iu lithological character. The north- ern range, as exposed on section 10, is somewhat porphyritic. Between thisiand tiiie second range there is a belt of sandstone 100 feet in thick- ness, which is well exposed on section 16. The middle range is capped with greenstone, while its base consists of :& graaiilar trap, with occasional araygdules dispersed through it, coiq- tposed of hornblende, feldspar, and chlorite — forming the most metal- liferous beii in the region. At the base of this belt a thin band of con- glomerate is observed about 10 feet in thickness, dipping north 52°. Be- tween the middle and southern ranges there is probably another band of conglomerate concealed by the soil. The souUiern range is composed of a dark brown trap, more compact than the former, hut likewise metal- lic roue. 'i he '' (South Brother" is somewhat isolated, and may be regarded the most receii in geological age, since the sandstone dips from it on the iSDUth, and iiie bedded •^••ap aud conglomerate dip from it on the north. • I'ht principal workjr.s in this township, east of the river, have been prosecuted on sections 15, 16,21, and 22. The Minnesota Company, on section 16, have a valuable mine, a detailed description ot which will be given under the appropriate head. , , Dde. No. M l*:». pi? i The Ontonagon Mining Company sank a shaft on section 22 to the depth of 40 feet, which afforded indications of Uttle value. The rock brought to light consisted of a mingled mass of epidote and trap, traversed by seams of calc spar and quartz, with traces of native copper. Associated with it were particles of oxide of iron, having a metallic lustre, which were mistaken for gray sulphuret of copper. Another shaft was commenced near the northwest quarter of section 11, but soon abandoned. ' ' The f^rincipal shaft sunk by the company was on section 16, near its •eastern boundary, and was carried to the depth of 60 feet, through trap which afforded no evidence of a vein. On the west side of the river, explorations were made on the northeast quarter of section 19, under the direction of Mr. Randolph. The hill was perforated to the distance of 30 feet along the course cf a supposed vein, when he found it cut off, as the miners term 3d it, by a wall of hard, compact trap. Near the seam, and against it, the rock is amyg- daloidal, the cavities of which are filled with calc .spar, epidote and quartz. In the space of six or eight feet from the seam, the rock grad- uates into a hard, compact trap, and every trace of a vein is obliterated. The quantity of copper found at this locality was exceedingly small, though some specimens yielded as high as 15 or 20 per cent., and was finely interspersed through the rock. , The Forest Mining Company are exploring some veins west of the river, with very flattering prospects, a description ot which will be found under the head of Mines. The mining attempts on section 31 , by the Ontonagon Company, will be alluded to in connexion with their operations on the adjoining sec- tion in range 40. ' In addition to these explorations, numerous shafts have been sunk and adits driven into ihe clay banks which border the river, by sanguine adventurers in search of mineral wealth. Near the spot where the cop- per rock was found, numerous attempts of this kind were made. The true sources from which the loose masses of copper have been derived are now fully understood, and fruidess explorations of this kind have long since been abandoned. Towtiship 50, range 40. — The trappean rocks west of the Ontonagon pursue a course which varies but a few degrees south of west. They here expand to a width of little more than four miles, and crop out north of the west branch in bold, overhanging cliffs. About one- third of the northern portion of this township is occupied by the detrital rocks; while the mid- dle, occupied by the igneous rocks, is low, and affords no valuable mining ground. In the southern portion, numerctus explorations have been made by the United States and Ontonagon Companies. Those of the latter have been principally confined to section 36. Here a vein-like mass of epidote can be traced from the bottom to the top of a hill, and for a considerable distance along the. course of the formation, which bears north 76° east. This mass is nearly vertical, and is one of the largest and best defined which we have seen. It has no perceptible walls, and on either side it may be seen graduating into the trap. A shaft has been sunk about halfway down the hill, and a drift exiended to intersect it be= low. Other Openings have been made at various ix.iuts. Although ome masses of native copper weighing fifty pounds 'vere extracted, yet iha |lM.^o. 6d. 79 m 22 to the . The rock te and trap, itive copper, g a metallio iv of section 16, near its through trap he northea^ 1. The hill f a supposed )y a wall of sk is amygf« epi'dote and rock grad- obliterated. ingly small, It., and was >;! n'.i^a^f^f' west of the ill be found upany, will oining sec* been sunk >y sanguina e the cop- ade. The !en derived kind have Ontonagon They here lorth of the e northern e the mid- ' valuable tions have Those of a vein-like 11, and for lich bears argest and Is, and on has been 'sect it be= mjh ome d, yet the results, on the whole, could not be deemed satisfactory, for the copper is diffused too sparingly to render the workings profitable. This com« pany also commenced explorations on section 31 in the adjoining town- ship east. A vein-like mass of similar character, bearing nearly east ana west, and dipping northwardly, was observed near the base of a cliff, into which a level was driven, without affording much encouragement to continue the work. The United States Mining Company were located on sections 34 and 35. A superficial examination was made at the base of a trap cliff perhaps one hundred feet in height, where the rock consisted of trap mmgled with epidote and quartz, presenting a singular brecciated appearance. No cop- per was found. Beds of epidote may be seen in this ridge, having an ap- proximate bearing east and west, in which traces of coDner exist, but na> where has it been observed in sufficient abundance to jflltify mining ope- rations. Gn section 35, is a high cliff made up of irregular alternating bands of amygdaloidal trap and amygdaloidal epidote. Surface explorations have only been made here; in fact, there is nothing to warrant extended mining. Towifskip 4Q,ranffe 40. — The trappean rocks occur only in the extreme northern portion of this township. They rise in isolated knobs and bro- ken ridges, north of the west branch of the Ontonagon, to the height of three hundred and even four hundred feet. Mining operations are for the most part restricted to the upper portions of the bluffs, so that, if sys- tematically pursued, drainage can be effected wiih ease by means of adits. The Ohio Trap Rock Company are located on section 6, but most of their explorations have been made on section 12 in the adjoining town- ship west. Township 49, range 41 — The geological features r ' this township do not differ essentially from that la^i described. Bold clitfs border the river on the north, through which are distributed vein-like i? ? of epi- dote containing copper. The cliffs extend though the town .^,. not con- tinuously, but in broken ridges, and form the principal mining ground. The trap continues northward about five miles, occupying about one half of township 50, but rarely emerges to the surface, and affords fetv facilities ibr mining. Sections 17, 18, and 19, in the western limits of the townsh'p, were re- spectively occupied by the Hope, Ural, and Astor Companies. A bluff, occasionily broken through by ravines, rises to the height of three hun- dred or four hundred feet above the west branch of the Ontonagon river, in which masses of epidote and quartz, containing considerable copper, are arrangfid somewhat in the form of veins. In places r >. /ere observed to expand to the width of five or six feet, and afteruaids contract to a mere seatn, and sometimes run out altogether, or reappear at a higher level in the cliff. There were no Well-defined walls observed, and fre- quently the epidote was seen to pass imperceptibly into compact trap. These tracts are now abandoned ; but if these deposites are found pro- ductive after more extended exploitations, raining operations will undoubt- f>d.I ' be resumed at this point. he Ohio Trap Rock Company have performed much work in a bluff !i£ a similar character on section 12, and at one 'time their prospects were regarded as highly flattering. :Si..'i;;f-i!; "! ■iit^iU;..'*it: -Tt'iiii i» .U»C. »Q, flf . lix:' r Dr. Gibbs visited tliis trac( in 1848, an4 from his ootes we cxtn^t tlji^ Ibllowing inforniatioii: <ses of epidote, mixed with quartz and calc-s^-ur, meet at ri- it angles — the one running nearly north aud south, the other east and west. Two inclined shafts were sunk to the respective depths of thirty and sixtv feet. The bed pitched to the north about 'h^, and was t'lought to Income richer in its downward cottrae. This mine is temporarily, if not permanently, alandoned." r. ik^ :ng)H it the bottom The hill is )oui 300 feet, gs have been same general iiig seams of r. Ther frag- ile of c pper, Sometimes ! rock, which le quantity qf ir oxplorario^i ineu' of the e op» ion a semea^ liow- ike mab. iid plorations on general char- o Trap Rock quartz and north and sunk to the to the north ward course. any other in roughout by ich in many be confessed tiiey can be m the north, blutfs before is township, a portion are juartzose porj)hyry, in which no traces of coppef ■ ' ' " direction for niimerous high knohs have been detected. 'I aese extend in an east-nonfieast about six miles, and vary in width from one to two miles. On section 24, known a^ Boyd's location, explorations to a limited extent have beeot* made. •* :t ''■{','__,'' -^s/'iV >■:,>■ ■ .'"ivri _ I'/.^u v'*. i.t^'i rft'-^- Near the bed 6f the it^eam, by the cabin, occurs a mags of epidole, passing into trap, and containing specks of metallic copper. A small (Quantity of rock has been thrown out here, but the percentage of copper is very light indeed. At the southeast corner of the location, near the summit of a trap cliff 200 feet m height, occurs another mass of epidot» Xock, which has been explored in search of copper. This mass is ab6ut six ieet in breadth by ten in length, and presents supatficially some of the characters of a vem, but passes gradually into the trap both above and below, so as to be no longer distinguishable at the distance of a few inches. A few particles of copper are found in the epidotej but appear- i.aces, upon the whole, are unpromising. About one-fourth of a mile east of the cabin is the locality known as the "Red oxide vein." The trap is very hard and compact, and contains epidote, which iii so letimes stained by carbonate of copper. The seams of the Urap are fille. with thin plates of a red crumbly substance — proba- bly decomposed laumonite. The epidote has, as usual, some resemblance to a vein. Considerable masses of or; have been obtained from this place, being mostly native copper incrnsted with the red oxide, which is probably an after-product from the oxidation of native copper. Near this place is another opening of the same kind; but no copper nor signs of a vein Could be discovered. On the whole, there is no reason to suppose that mining operations at this point will be attended with success. 'v/ The trap occupies only portions of the first tier of sections in the ad*' joining township (48) south. On section 6, the Charter Oak Company erected buildings and made surface explorations. The cop{)er bearing rock is similar to that which is characteristic of the whole of this range, and to describe it more in detail would be superfluous. The location is now abandoned. • • ■ ♦•?•'' •' From this range west to the Montreal river, (we speak not now of the Porcupine mountains,) the country is low and swampy, affording {e\ir facilities for mining operations. The rocks rarely emerge to the surface, and, when observed, are in isolated knobs, instead of continuous ranges. The bed of the Presqu' Isle was examined by us with great care, aS' well as the country lying west of the river, before thu organization of the survey. The conglomerate is seen flanking the iTap oh the north, as well as intercalated with it in lenticular bands. The junction between the two classes of rocks occurs in sect'on 26. Tovmship 49, range 45. — The trap resembles that of Keweenaw Point, and, near the junction of the diflerent mineral planes, is highly amygda- loidah The z ohtes, so rare in the Ontonagon region, are here very abundant. A bed of quartz slightly tinged with the sub-oxide of copper is seen in the trap on section 26, near its northern limits. Numerous and appa- rently contemporaneous fissures traverse the rnass. which are fiilm with prehnite, laumonite, and calc-spar, through which native copper is diffused in small specks. Fissures of greater power, and apparently of a later age, cut the mass in a north and south direction, but they are rarely 7a Doc. No. 6f>. . 'U |i i« ' I i„, t metalliferous. Befwenn Prosqn'Isle and Fi'v! nvors, occasionally, de- tached ktiobs of trap arc observed, which affova no induceiucnls to tniiiing. ^rhe Cypress River Mining Company erected cabins on section 20, which were subsequently abandoned. The bed of Black river, above ^he point where the conglomerate and trap meet, exhibits few exposures of rock. On section 5, township 48, range 46, the Chippewa Mining Company explored a vein in the bed of the stream to some extent, but develo|)ed nothing valuable, there being an ill defined vein through which native copper is sparsely disseminated. The trap here rises in hills two or three hundred feet in height, occasion- ally exiiihiting mural escarpments. Beyond these hills southward the country sinks down into a nearly level plain, covered with deep depositea of drift. * Between the Black and Montreal rivers a low range of trappean hills runs parallel with the coast, but in no instance intersects it. To the south the country is low and swampy, but occasionally a trap knob rises up to diversify the monotony of the scene. The Montreal, a rapid, brawling stream, affords a good section of the rocks. For four miles above its mouth, it dashes throtuth a deep gorge which it has excavated in the rocks, laying bare the iJftdded trap, con- glomerate, and sandstone. The trap is both compact and amygdaloidal. The belt in proximity to the conglomerate is decidedly vesicular and con- tains an abundance of the zeolitic nnnerals, in which occasional traces of copper are observed. There are numerous irregular veins of a hard, quartzose material, occasionally stained with copper, bearing north 55° west, with ailip of 45° or 50° northwardly. They are very limited, and we do not consider them as affording any possible indication of valuabls lodes. The Montreal River Mining Cempany occupied sections 23, 24, 25, and 26, township 48, range 49. The exploitations of the company were very limited, and'the locations are now abandoned. ,,.•( , .,, ! ii ju',.v, k.i tv'».j(i-'- i .••■>. .li... .'i'.<,,.U Jl i>>i -: '-.al (ij bh", PORCUPINE MOUNTAINS. f.. *..,^ -.wa c': ''■■> ■••■', *■'■■': Vi ■•.:•: • i,.,i }i..4t'4' These mountains, as will be seen by an inspection of the map, are an off-shoot at nearly right angles from the main range, and form the cul- minating points in the district, if we except a few points near Agogebic lake. They assume a crescent form — a peculiarity in the trappean rocks, which has been noted by Dr. Percival in his description of the geology of the State of Connecticut. The great mass consists of quartzose por- phyry and jasper, though in other portions the amygdaloid is not want- ing. Copper has been observed at numerous points, but no valuable lodes have been, nor probably will be, developed. To show the char- acter of the rocks, and the association of the copper, we will advert to the principal points where explorations have been made. ^ Township 61, rhnge 42, section 27. — The Union River Company have here made quite extensive explorations — more so than any other company in the region. The seat of their mining operations is about two miles from the mouth of Union river, and is elevated 309 feet above the lake. A bed of trap. 500 or 600 feet in thickness, is included betv/een parallsl f)lanes of sandstone, and dips north' est at an angle of 25°. Along the ine of junction between the sandstone above and the trap below, and occupying a thickness of about 6 feet, is a bed of amygdaloidal chlorite, Doe. No. 69.^ TIT ionally, do- stoinininff. n 26, which imerate and jwnship 4S, n the bed of ere being an isseminated. \t, occaaion- uthward the jep deposites rappean hills lit. To the ip knob rises ection of the a deep gorge id trap, con- mygdaloidal. ular and con- Dnal traces of s of a hard, le north 55 limited, and of valuable i, 24, 25, and ly were very i Hi- ^>Wi map, are an Ibrm the cul- ear Agogebic [ppean rocks, the geology lartzose por- lis not want- Ino valuable DW the char- all advert to • ipany have |ier company It two miles )ve the lake. f/een parallol Along the below, and lal chlorite, cnntolnmg copper in bunches and disseminated. On this bed two shafts have been sunk to the respective depths of 100 and 128 feet, and a gallery extended between thnm. Two vertical shafts were also sunk to intersect the inclined ones. The intention of the company was to make use of the hydraulic powtir afforded by the stream to raise the attle. Subse- quently another -shaft was sunk farther north, thrnugh sandstone, which intersected the bed at the depth of 120 feet; but the attle thrown out disclosed only a trace of copper. The hanging- wall of sandstone afforded several very good specianens of silver. In contact with the foot-wall there was a thin seam of clayey matter, called by the miners flucan, consisting of decomposed chlorite. Near the surface copper was found in considera- ble masses, some of which weighed* 50 pounds; but we could not gather that these occurred in the downward progress of the shafts. The copper here often forms a thin envelope around the exterior of the vesicles of the trap, while the middle is replaced by chlorite or calc spar. The mass brouglit to the surface was very meagre in copper, not exceeding one per cent. In the bed of the stream, a few miles above the mine, is a large mass of quartzose and sparry material in the trap, wiih chlorite interspersed, which has been explored to some extent. It has a reddish tint, coii^pau- nicated by the sub-oxyde of copper. The workings are now abandonded. Toitnship 51 y range 42 — On sections 22 and 27 the Boston Mining Company have made surface explorations, whieh resulted, unfavorably, in a trap belt, which is an extension of that last described. There is a vein of quartz and silicate of lime, containing traces of metallic copper, which bears NE. and SW., and dips NW. at an angle of 30° or 40°, and varies from eight to ten feet in width. The trap here is very much fractured, and contains seams of highly polished chloritic matter (slickensides.) At the junction of the trap and sandstone, no signs of the bed wrought by the Union River Company are observable. ^ Township 51, range 42, section 32. — Near the correction line, a shaft has been sunk to the depth of fifteen or twenty feet into the hard jasper, which remains a monument both of persevering industry and misdirected, effort; since the difficulty of boring and blasting the close grained and tough silicious rock could only be equalled by the absurdity of attempt- ing to mine a seam of clay in perfectly barren walls. Township 51, range 43. — This township has been the site of much [mining exploration, and therefore deserves more than a passing notice. It is much broken by ranges of the Porcupine hills, and mural precipices; extend from the centre of section 13 to 30. The highest point is 976 feet above the lake, and on the side opposite the coast presents a vertical face of several hundred feet, with a steep talus of angular fragments at Ithe bottom. The trap, which attains a thickness of several hundred feet, lis included within parallel planes of detrital rocks. This range bounds |tbe valley of the Carp river on the north; while to the south, and within the distance of a mile, a second range is observed, composed of amygda- loid, having rounded summits. Still beyond occurs the elevated range of luartz and jasper rocks, in which no trace of copper has been detected. Vlmostall of tne explorations in this township have been made iii the irst range, near the junction of the trap and sandstone. On section 14, the Isle Royale Company explored a deposite of copper some respects similar to that of the Union Company. The sandstone :i 80 Doc. No. 6^. masses of metallic copper> one of which weighed 55 pounds, were found here dips at an an-'le of 30° to the north, and has been much altered by contact with the igneous rock. A seam, about a foot in width, consisting of blue plastic clay and chlorite, with rounded fragments of sandstone, is interposed between the two formations. In this seam directly in contact with the trap. An inclined drift wms carried on the bed to the depth of 20 feet, but the traces of copper became more iridis* tinct. Several feef above was a seam of calcspar, from one to four inches in width, and in some places expanding to a foot, intermixed With fragw ments of the walls, forming a breccia; several feet below, a narrow seam, carrying metallic copper was observed, but it gave Mo evidence of being valuable. The annexed wood-cut is a section of the cliff at this Fig. i. cation between point. About one-fourth of a mile west, the same company explored one of the vein- like masses of epidote, associated with native copper, like those west of the On- tonagon, bearing north and south, but it afforded little encouragement to persevere. Township 61, range 43. — The Delavan Company explored on sections 27 and 28. There are no regular veins or ap- pearances of veins on either of these sec- tions. The rock is epidote, passing into ^ amygdaloidal trap, so intermixed, that it "^ is impossible to draw the line of demar- them. The amygdules are often filled with epidote, both pulverulent and crystalline— the bright green of the former forming a striking contrast with the dark brown of the latter. A shaft was sunk a few feet in the rock, which here presents a very brecciated appearancoj traversed by numerous seams contahiing calc-spar and the zeolitic minerals. Traces of the gray sulphuret of copper were here observed, and also on section 21 ; on the adjoining section 32 the Croton Company sank a shaft in a similar rock, but found nothing to induce them to persevere. On section 30, the Isle Royale Company mined pretty extensively. The character of the rock is similar to that on section 14, before described. With regard to the Porcupine mountains it may be said, without hesi- tation, that there are no indications of copper of sufficient promise to warrant mining enterprises. There are no true, well-defined lodes, bul irregular seams promiscuously scattered through the trap. We have endeavored to give, briefly, a synopsis of what has been donfi in the way of exploitation by the several companies. Onginally, all of I the trap belt was secured by permits, and even portions of the sandstone. It will hardly be necessary to say that these permits were located at a time when the speculative fever ran high, and when the mere presence of trap was regarded as a sure index of the proximity of valuable lodes of copper. Before the expiration of 1848, nearly all of tho companies in this region had abandoned their locations, i»garding them as worthless; and, at the end of the succeeding season, there was not, to our knowl* | edge, a white man left. Doc. No. 69. ISLE ROYaIg. 81 111 many respects, Isle Royale may be regarded as the counterpart of Keweenaw Point. On both, the lines of upheaval are nearly parallel, ex- hibit the same banded structure, and yield the same metallic products. There are, however, minor differences. The conglomerates here are not developed on so grand a scale— different systenas o^ fracture are found to prevail; but on both shores, the lines of inclination converge towards a common centre, forming a synclinal valley sevt.il hundred feet below the ocean-level, which is occupied by the waters of the great lake. We have seen that the Jesuits formed the most extravagant notions with regard to the mineral wealth of this island; and those notions, though greatly modified, prevailed among the explorers at a later day. Nothing, however, has been revealed to justify those expectations; and the island,, for mining purposes., may be regarded as infinitely less valuable than Ke^ weenaw Point, or the region in the vicinity, of the Ontonagon. In an agricultural point of view, it is less valuable than any portion of equal extent in the district. The soil is scanty, and the timber which it sustains is dwarfed and stunted. Range and extent — metallic contents. — The trappean rocks range through the island in a northeasterly and southwesterly direction, forming numerous ridges, which seldom attain an elevation five hundred feet above the level of the lake. Almost everywhere they present a bedded structure, and the beds display marked lithological differences. The lines of bedding almost invariably are found to be coincident with the lines of stratification in the detrital rocks which occur on tiie southern portion of the island. A line drawn from the western extremity of the island , and cutting mid- way between Siskawit lake and the bay of the same name, would repre- fient the junction between the two formations— the igneous occupying the northern, the aqueous the southern portion. From the eastern ix)int the line curves abruptly, and appvoaf.hes the shore on the south. There is evidence of a powerful lateral dislocation here, by which one portion of the mass has been forced beyond the corresponding portion, thus interrupting the continuity of the strata. Other evidences of the same phenomena have been observed on other portions of the island, which will be described in the detailed geology. The length of the line occupied by the trap, from Phelps's island, in Washington Harbor, to Passage island, which is an ex- tension of Blake's Point, is fifty one nules; its breadth varies from four and a half to seven miles. The physical obstructions to a successful ex- ploration of the interior of the island a 3 g.veater than we have encoiuitered in any other portion of the mineral district. The shores are lined with dense but dwarfed forests of cedar and spruce, with their branches interlocking and wreathed with long and drooping festoons of moss. While the tops of the *rees flourish luxu- riantly, the lower branches die off" and stand out as so many spikes, to oppose tlife progress of the explorer. So dense is the interwoven mass of foliage that the noonday sunlight hardly penetrates it. The air is stifled ; and at every step the explorer starts up swarms of musquitoes, which, the very instant he pauses, assail him. Bad as this region is by nature, man has rendered it still worse. Fires have swept over large tracts, con- sumina: the leaves and tv.'igs and destroying the growth, while the heuVy ■i f >, I 82 Doc. No. 69. winds have prostrated the half-charred trunks, and piled them up so as to form almost impenetrable barriers. As we ascend the ridges, the maple and the birch replace the cedar and the spruce, and the physical obstructions become less formidable. These ridges occur at short intervals, and preserve a great degree of parallelism — bearing northwest and southeast, and are uniformly precipitous on the north, and gently sloping on the south. The valleys between are occu- pied by swamps, clothed with a dense growth of resinous trees, or wit!i small lakes arranged in chains. The coast of the island is rock-bound, and, like Iceland, intersected by tmmerous feiordi', or narrow and deeply indented bays. In describing the detailed geology, we commence at the eastern ex- tremity of the island, and thence proceed west. Range 32. — Passage island occurs within this range. It is three miles from the nearest point of the main land, and was fabled as possessing rocks of pure copper, so tViat \vhen a stone was cast against ther.i a sound like that proceeding from brass was emitted. It is two miles in length, and its shores are rock bound, but indented with numerous bays, which afford excellent boat-harbors. The prevailing rock is a dark varioloid trap, which rises near the centre of the island to the height of more than one hundred feet, intersected by numerous veins running north and south, but nowhere affording much inducement for mining enterprise. ' Rans^e 33, townships Q^ and 67. — Within these townships are numer- ous projecting headlands and deeply indented bays, known as the Fingers of Isle iloyale. The southern portion of Rock Harbor is bciinded by a re-^f ■of islands, twenty-four in number, arranged in a linear direction. The rock is a dark -gray trap, not very firm, and occasionally contfiins amyg- dules, filled with agate, chlorite, chlorastrolite, calc-spar, licc. A narrow- belt of conglomerate is seen intercalated in the trap, bearinfj northeast and southwest, and dipping southeast 12°, and good exposures cMcur on Cari- bou and Mott's islaiuls. A seam of calc-spar, about eight in ches in thick- ness, conforming in course and inclination to the conglomerate, runs* through several of these islands, which, in a region remolo from masses of limestone, may ultimately prove of economical value. On Mott's iskmd and Shaw's island there are veins of considerable power, but, owing to the proximity of the lake, it Avas thought that they would never prove valu- abij, since it would be impossible to free the mines from water. Scovill^s Point. — A cap of dark-gray trap, breaking into cuboidal blocks, and well adapted to the purposes of construction, is here seen, forming the northern boundaiy of Rock Harbor. It rises in cliffs thirty and even fifty feet in height, forming an excellent sea-wall. :From the head of the harbor to the ex- tremity of the point I there is not a pebble I beach of any extent. ;|f Beneath the com- pact trap is a thin band of amygdaloid; Pig. 8. Doc. No. ^9. 88 ) so as to edar and . These Uelism — 18 on the are occu- 5, or \vit5i k-bound, id deeply istern ex- iree miles jossessing a a sound in length , ys, -which oloid trap, e than one ind south, ire numer- he Fingers >A by a re-^f tion. The tins amyg- A narrow rtheast and ur on Cari- 3s in thick- lerate, runs n masses of ott's iskmd )wing to the prove valu- r. lidal blocks, forming the boundaiy Harbor. It cUfFs thirty 1 fifty feet in forming an sea-wall, le head of or to the ex- J the point not a pebble any extent. the com- is a thill amygdaloid; P i below this a bed of columnar trap, which gradually rises as we advance northward. The columns are arranged in prisms of five, six and sevea sides, broken by joints, at short intervals; but we nowhere observed the structure known as ball and socket. The adjoining sketch, taken on the north side of Scov il's Point, will convey a correct idea of tlie appearance of the columnar trap, 8 1 In the compact trap a well-defined vein of considerable power is seen, bearing north of east and south of west, and extending almost uninter- ruptedly from Ransom to the extremity of the point — a distance of Nearly nine miles. This has been explored at different points by the Ohio and Isle Royale Company, by the Siskawit Company, and by Messrs. Shaw and Scovill. The vein stohe consists of chlorite, quartz, and culc spar, \vith native copper in thin sheets and in bunches, and in the com- pact trap presents favoralle indications, but, on entering the columnar trap, it rapidly contracts and becomes worthless. A more detailed description of this vein will be found under the head of Mines. The columnar trap is also seen on Blake's Point and on Silver island. The amygdaloid before described crops out on the southern side of the point. It is of a dark-brown color, and contains numerous agates and vein-like masses of pitch stone. On Blaice's Point, the trap attains an elevation of 250 feet, and consists of a dark-gray varioloid greenstone, traversed by numerous belts of sienite, (crystalline feldspar and horn- blende,) arranged in strataiform masses. Copper is generally found dis- seminated through these belts. On section 33, township 66, a vein can be traced, bearing north 50° east, containing quartz, chlorite, and spar, with considerable copper. It is in the varioloid trap, but, at the depth of 15 feet, one of the sienitic bands occurs, in which the vein is ill defined. On the northw^est quarter of section 33 is one of those natural monu- ments which instantly attracts the eye of the observer, known as " The Cloven Tower." The varioloid trap here rises in two columns to the height of about sixty feet, which are separated from one another by an interval of only a few inches in width. They are very symmetrical, resembling obelisks, and altogether form one of the most pleasing features in the scenery of the island. The varioloid trap skirts the southern coast of Duncan's bay, in bold overhanging cliffs. F.jiu Iheir summits, the eye hao an almtst unlimit- ed range. To the north, the Canada coast can be traced for more than a hundred miles: all of the prominent points — St. Ignace, the Paps, Thun- der cape. Pie island, McKay's mountain, and Prince's bay — are distinct- ly visible. I'he many inlets around tlie island, fring«d with evergreens, are seen almost beneath the feet. To the east and south, a boundless expanse of water stretches out, unenliven^^d by sail or other evidence of man's works. In peculiar stages of the atmosphere, the outlines of Ke- weenaw Point may be traced, resting like a cloud v.pon the verge of the horizon. The amygdaloid emerges from the base of these cliff's, and, for the most part, forms the underlying rock on Locke'.s Point. It is of a dark-brown color, and very soft, dipping southerly at an angle of 40°. Range 34, toiniskips 65, 66, and 67. —The following sectiotf, across the island, nearly tlirough the centro of these townships, north and south, v.'ill shovv the contours of the country and its geological structure. ^ :H .0 Xi" \"M f i ^■j,i ••i*''T.: !;;• J -itil: t; 'ii-i-'-i.:'; . , ■, .', ,' ,'i'i .-.,1; •;,-, ,',;:•.;■ ^.r-- '. '■■ •■- •1 , f ; f; . .'^ I ■ r rj ( ui:- :';o'f ^J -4 ;.J ,!-•• v:ti. ■I'll' "'i- ■V: • -'V !yf-. I: I .1 ' 1 i 1 mdu. ■iKl'T ■•iM '. ■ U'. S' ),;■:■ ■C-i, • • a 3 *OCfp p a. I 3 *»;!>■ w O "n CD i-« «* 5 ^® w c& I (S Lake. ••• ■ P Fish island. Bay. i/;li Summit. ''^" ' ^'^ 513. Cold ron. 120. Scovill's ridge. 263. ■■'"Rock Harbor. § "Conglomsrate bay. V Lhko. Doc. No. 69. ' Fig. 10. The southern coast in this range is rock-bound, the rocks often rising in rounded, irregular masses to the height of fifty feet,. Numerous coves occur, bounded by high cliffs at the entrance, with pebbly beaches at the extremity, which are secure places of refuge in a storm, come from what quarter it may. The entrance to Chippewa Harbor affords a beautiful section of the in- tercalations of the sandstone and trap, there being no less than five in the distance of less than a mile. These beds bear SW. and NE., and dip from 12° to 20'^ to the SE., and respectively vary from a foot to 80 feet iu thickness. When traced across the harbor a few rods only in extent, they are found to have been subjected to a powerful dislocation, extend- ing in a NW. and SE. direction, and amounting to 971 feet in a linear direction. At and near the junctions of these different rocks, marked changes in their hthological characters are observed, which throw much light on their origin. The upper portions of the sheets of trap are highly vesicular, resem- bling pumice. Fragments of amygdaloid, sometimes rounded, at others angular, are found enclosed in the pumice-like trap, as though they had become detached and afterwards reunited to the mass, while in a molten state. Numerous short and irregular fissures, extending to no great depth,. are observed on the upper surface of the trap, in which sandstone has been deposited. The following sketch will explain the nature of the fissures and the position of the included fragments of amygda- loid. Between the sandstone above and the trap below, it is extremely difficult to determine where the one begins and the other ends. Fragments of amygdaloid, angular or partly rounded, are included in the sandstone — more numerous near the base than at the top of the depos- ites. Where the sandstone is imposed 071 the trap, there is little evidence of its having been metamorphosed; but, on tlia other hand, where the trap rests on the sandstone, the line of junction is clear and well defined. The trap is less vesicular; and the upper portion of the sandstone belt, for the distance of three or four feet, is converted into a ribbon jasper, having a compact texture. These phenomena have been observed at numerous places both on Isle Royaleand Keweenaw Point. The beds of sandstone are not shattered, nor does the igneous rock penetrate in the form of dikes or ramifying veins. All the phenomena indicate that the igneous rocks were not protruded in the form of dikes between the strata, but that they flowed like lava sheets over the pre-existing surface; and that the sand was deposited in the fissures and depressions of the igneous belt, in some cases, while the mass was in an incandescent state. A bed of crystalline calc-spar, varying in thickness from six inches to two feet, is observed in Chippewa Harbor, and is well adapted to making quicklime. Thin beds of epidote, containing native copper, are also ob- served, having a bearing and dip conformable to the sandstone. Such is the nature of the amntry, that it is impossible to trace these S8 Doc. No. 69. f * -''i coBgtomernte bands to aiiy considerable extent, but thay probably wedge- out in short distances, forming in fact lenticular bandi?. A thin belt of conglomerate lines the northern shore of Congloraerale- bay, with a dip of t)° to the southeast, and is protracted thence along the southern shore of Rock Harbor. A thin belt of sandstone occurs about a fourth of a mile north of Ransom and this is the farthest point north along the line of the section at which the purely detrital rocks have been observed . Between the lake shore and Rock Harbor, embracing the fractional towrtship 65 and the extreme southeast portion of 00, the rock is a dark compact trap, occasionally amygdaloidal, consisting of hornblende, chlorite, and feldspar. The stratiform appearance in places is very marked, par- ticularly near Conglomerate bay, resembling in some respects a sedimen- tary rock altered by heat. Occasionally a band of crystalline greenstone is found included in the softer rock. The ridges which form the Fingers of the islasd, before described, ex- tend through township 60, and present few differences in external char- acters. The crystalline greenstone which characterizes the middle range, and of which Blake's Point may be regarded as the prolongation, forms tlie culminating point on this part of the island. In the southwest quarter of section 15 it rises to the height of five hundred and thirteen feet. In crossing the island from Rock Harbor to Amygdaloid island, the trav- eller encounters a series of sharp ridges, with intervening swamps. The escarpments are invariably on the north side, while on the south the slope is gradual. The clusters of islands and headlands on the northern portion of this township consist of amygdaloidal and compact trap, but afford little encouragement for mining enterprise. The best mining-ground in this range is near the junction of the two systems of rocks in township 65. The trap is traversed by numerous veins, some of which appear to bemetalliferoas. The main veins pursue an easterly and westerly course parallel with the formation, but dip to the northwest, thus forming nearly a right angle to the inclination of the sedimentary rocks. Datholite, in many cases, forms nearly the entire gangue. Numerous explorations have been made in this vicinity by the Ohio and Isle Royale Company, which will be noticed under the head of Mines. Range 35. tmmiships 65 and 66. — Sandstone and conglomerate forms the projecting points by the lake shore in the southwest qaarter of town- ship 65, Along the line of junction the same phenomena are ob- served as at Ohippe Ara Harbor. The coast is lined by heavy masses of trap, with occasional indentations, which afford excellent boat-harbors. Powerful fissures traverse the rock in a northerly direction, and occa- sionally afford indications of copper. On section 34 a vein of this kind has been explored to a limited extent. Stratiform masses of epidote, con- taining copper, are also observed, included in the trapw. Receding from the lake shore, the country becomes low, and the rock rarely emerges to the surface. In the south part of the northwest quarter of section 24, amygdaloidal trap was observed, containing the zeolite min- erals. It is exposed in the bed of the stream which connects Siskawit lake with the bay, almost in contact with the conglomerate, and is trav- ersed by numerous and apparently contemporaneous fissures, occasionally affording traces of copper. After crossing the first chain of lakes, the country is intersected by Doc. No. 69. SO ne rock quartet ite min- Siskawit is trav- sionally many sharp ridges, sloping from the summit to the souflieast, but breaking off abruptly in perpendicular cliffs to the northwest. The rock is a hard crystalline greenstone, with belts of porphyry similar to those before described. At the head of McCargoe's cove, the rock is amygdaloidal trap; but between this point and the lake shore, on either side, high cliffs of green- stone occur, 'he same rock bounds the coast from the outlet of this cove to Touu'5 Harbor, intermingled -with bands of porphyritic trap, having the regularity of sedimentary deposites. This appearance is parti- cularly marked on the main shore, opposite Hawk island. The outer reef consists of amygdaloid which is also seen underlying the greensfoneat the eastern extremity of Todd's Harbor. Occasionally veins running north and south traverse the greenstone, but are for the most part pinched and unproductive. The best vein of this class hitherto observed occurs on section 12, in the adjoining range west, and is wrought by the Pittsburg and Isle Royale Company, with a good prospect of success. Range 36, townships 64 inid 65. — The northern coast of the island in this range is lined with high cliffs of greenstone, so httle indented as to afford hardly a boat-harbor. It breaks into cuboidal blocks, and occasionally presents the banded structure before described. Numerous north -and-south veins are observed, and the gangue almost invariably exhibits traces of copper. In the interior, the main range of trap courses through the township in a northeasterly and southwesterly direction, but the subordi nate ridges are less clearly marked. The southeastern portion of town- ship 65 is low, and the rock raiely emerges to the surface. The same remarks will apply to the fractional township 64. Near the southern border of Siskawit lake, the linear surveyors are said to have discovered a vein of some promise; but it escaped .our notice. They also found on the shores of this lake amass of native copper weighing about twenty pounds. The southern coast in this range consists of conglomerate ani sandstone. Range 37, toitmships 64 afid ^"v. — A hue drawn from the southwest quarter of section 13, in township •>4, to the centre of section 31, will in- aicate very nearly the junction ol ti^' two systems of rocks. In following "up the small stream which flow? into the northern arm of Siskawit bay, tlie trap is exposed for the first time on the northwest quarter of section 23. Numerous parallel ridges are intersected in crossing the island, which attain no great elevation. The highest range lies immediately north of Lac Desor, and consists of greenstone, affording no evidence of veins. The northern coast in this range is so girt with rocks that in • rough weather it is impossible for the voyageur to effect a landing. Range 38, townshifs ^atid 65. — But a small portion of township 64 is embraced in the trap range, and the heavy accumulations of drift effect- ually conceal the rock. A ridge of hills, two or three hundred feet high, skirts Washington Harbor on the south, which are so covered with debris that the rock cannot be well exploded. Loose masses of veinstone have been observed on the flanks of the hi'ls, which would seem to indicate the presence of veins. Another elevated ridge occurs between Washington Harbor and the lake shore on the north. Tlje rocks ris-? in bold, perjjeudicular cliffs, and from their summits the eye h^s an almost unlimited range. The shore is rock-bouii '. cliffs ranging in almost unbroken lines, and presenting a wall like fa ,^ wards the lake in many places a hundrei ilk 90 Doc. No. 69. ■',!: m feet in height. Hugennin's cove is the only harbor in thi.^ I -inity in which the voyageur can take refuge. The cUflTs along the shore exhibit numerous alternations of difi'erent jgneou^ lOCKb. The fjllowing sketch was taken on sec tion 28. Thin Fig. 11. bauds of porphyry are found _=L-^_-:i - ^.bedded in daik compact ^^^'^^ ^Q correspond with those of the detrital rocks. At another pojnt on the coast the following section was observed : Feet. Inches. Coir.r^act trap, breaking^ into cuboidal Mocks . - ... 15 Porphyritic trap .---------- 3 Compact trap ----»--..-■- 4 Porphyritic trap ----------- 2 Compact trap ..-.-.-.-.- l 6 Porphyritic trap .-.-•------ 1 U Camp'ict trap ....-.-..-- 1 (i ^ 23 5 These alternations exhibited well-defined lines of junction, and pre- served their parallelism along the face of the cliff, as far as exposed. The bearing and dip were the same as in the section before described. The lines of division pursued an unde tting course through the several bands. A small vein was observed at one point cutting vertically through these bands, and the veinstone exhibited marked changes in its passage through the different belts. At a point about one-half of a mile to the west, numerous alternations of compact trap and amygdaloid were observed, having the same regu- larity in bedding andincUnation. We have observed this banded structure in the igneous rocks, at shott intervals, from Blalce's Point nearly to Washington Harbor, a distance of forty-five miles; and throughout the entire extent of the island they pre- sent aremarkable uniformity in bearing and inclination. They were, un- doubtedly, deposited at "first in nearly horizontal sheets, and owe their present inclination to the same upheaval which aplifted the associated sedimentary rocks. We regard them as purely igneous products, and not as the result of metamorphism. Range 39, townships 63 and 64. — Between Hugennin's cove and Washington Harbor, the trap Unes the coast in overhanging cliffs a hun- dred and fifiy feet in height. In rounding the end of the island, where Doc. No. 69. 91 ■ 'inity m different 8. Thin are lound compact northeast dip south- r these ai- re due to I'sof igne- tie result of while the an incan- ire not pre- ,re inclined lion, since g are fdund h those of rved: ct. Inches. 15 4 1 1 1 3 2 6 U C and pre- :)sed. The ibed. The reral bands, rough these e through alternations same regu- ks, at short distance of id theypre- y were, un- 1 owe their associated aducts, and cove and liffs a hun- aud, where the different beds of unequal firmness have been exposed to the action of the surf, numerous coves are observed walled up on either side, and skirt- ed at the extremities by agate beaches. Rounded masses ni prehnite containing copper are abundant on all of the islands, and several beautiful specimens of silver have been picked up in the same association. Phelps's island, on the southern side of the harbor, holds out strong in- ducements for mining enterprise. On ihf southeast short, (section 10) is a vein, bearing south-southeast, 18 in es wide, containing calc-spar, prehnite, and native copper. Still turther to the east is another vein of great power, bearing nearly north and south, and thirty inches in width. The veinstone consists of quart? la'' nnite, "id prehnite, with native copper disseminated. On the southeast quarter of du section is another copper-bearing vein, well defined, and seve " vi'th. Appended to this chapter v id a tabular list of the tracts in this district supposed to contain c In designating such lands as were ugarded as mineral, we have been governed by the following considerations; All of that portion underlaid by sandstone and conglomerate has been excluded — experience having demonstrated that, although they contain traces of copper, no valuable lodes need be expected. We have restricted the mineral lands to such portions of the trap ranges as were sufficiently elevated for mining purposes, where the rock was exposed on the surface, and, from its external characters and proximity to veins of known value afforded evidence of productive lodes. Although the Porcupine mountains afford good exposures of the rock, and contain abundant traces of copper, neither the character of the veins nor of the containing rocks affords a reasonable prospect for successful mining. For this reason, we have included no poriion of it in the list of mineral lands. The same remarks will apply to the trap range in the vicinity of the Montreal river. In designating the mineral lands on Isle Royale, we have encountered much difficulty. The metalliferous bands, as we have seen from the de- tailed geology, are extremely narrow, particularly in the northern portion ; but the physical obstnictions were such as to prevent a successful explo- ration inland. We have accordingly designated such tracts as were suf- ficiently elevated above the lake for mining purposes, and gave evidence of being metalliferous, without reference to the thickness of the belts. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) /. 1.0 I.I 1.25 Ul lil :!: 1^ mil 2.0 1.8 1.4 1.6 V] <^ % /a W c «% "^ v-V* /A '/ Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 Ua i 02 Doc. No. 6&: ■<<■. i:Ji: ffl m ' List of the miheral lands of Keweenaw Point, Lake Stiptrior land v.... .. , . ,. ^ district. Section. ■ ill'.- t;;i -!' -o! •U' 7 17 .18 19 8« 4 , 5 6 7 8 ' 9 10 13 .14 15 16 17 18 19 20 SI 98 84 •^87 24 1 2 7 8 9 10 11 13 13 14 15 Jb 17 18 19 SO 21 22 23 24 25 26 87 28 29 30 31 . 32 6 7 8 9 10 Jl 12 .., „ ,jPai!t. , ..., , ., .'fN> i-'f .' -.ff ,!i.fi»;i! 'if''!'),- ',.fi!-. rvf'^.'fUin.: ■■.id .('lo . SW. t. W. i.. All. N.J... NW. \ S.i... S.i... All All All All All N. 1 and S£. l NE. i S. i SE.i NE. i N. 4 and 8E. i. All. W. i.. Nw!V N. S. 4 S.4 All. All All. S k' All... N.i. N.4. N.|. N.i, N.i. N ' S i s. I S. i AIL. N.i. N.i. N.i. All.. i- AH All All Nl N i NW. i E. lands W. i. All All All All All Township Range north. weat. 58 27 i8 27 68 27 58 27 58 27 58 28 58 28 58 28 58 28 53 28 58 28 58 28 58 28 58 28 58 28 58 20 58 28 58 28 58 28 58 28 58 28 58 28 58 29 58 28 .58 28 58 29 58 29 58 29 58 29 58 29 58 29 53 29 58 29 58 29 58 29 58 29 58 29 53 29 58 29 58 29 58 29 58 29 58 29 58 39 58 29 58 29 58 29 58 29 58 29 58 29 58 29 58 29 58 29 58 30 58 30 58 * 30 58 39 58 30 58 30 58 39 I a uptrior land »?)f{ .'titj;it inl', Range weat. 28 28 28 98 38 28 28 28 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 S9 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 39 29 29 29 29 29 39 39 39 39 39 30 30 30 39 30 30 3» Ooc. No. 69. df List of tho mineral lands of Keioeenaw Point — Continued. Section. 13 14 15 16 17 18 lit 30 25 26 2T 28 29 31 33 33 34 35 36 4 5 6 11 12 13 14 15 19 20 SI 23 23 34 28 39 30 31 36 1 2 3 4 8 9 10 11 25 35 36 1 3 3 10 11 15 16 31 33 26 37 28 tii'%' Part. N.i.. N.i.. All... All... All... All... N.i.. NW. All... S.i.. S.i.. S J.. SKi. All..., All..., All..., All.... N.i. N, 4: N N. i and SW. i All SE. J Si All All S, i S. i and NE. i. All All All All All NW-i W. i and NE. J. All NW. 4 S.i N. iandSW.l. E. J and SW. {. Si ii. NE.1 N.i N.i NW.l S. i and NE. { . 8. i and NE. i . All N.i. All S. i and NE. i . All W. i W. i SE.J All Si W. i All N. i and SW. J. Townihip Range north. weiU 58 30 58 3Q; 58 30 58 30 58 30 58 30 58 30. 58 30 58 30 5d 30 58 30 58 30 58 3ft 58 m 53 39l 58 ^ 58 ». 58 30 58 30 57 30! '57 30[ 57 30.; 58 31 58 31 58 31 58 31 58 31 58 31. . 58 31- 58 31i 58 31) 58 31 58 31 58 31 58 31 58 31 58 31 58 31 57 31 W 31 57 31 57 31 57 31 57 31 57 31 .i 57 31 58 33 58 33 58 32 ' 57 33 i 57 33 57 32 57 32 - 57 33 57 33 57 32 57 33 57 33 57 32 57 33 57 32 M Doc. No. 69. List of the mineral lanis of Keeweenaw Point — Continued. Seetr n. 31 33 33 34 35 36 4 S 6 a 8 17 18 19 90 30 9 3 10 11 95 35 36 1 a 3 10 11 15 16 90 99 30 9d 94 95 96 97 35 .;()T(On Fart. E.| E. i and SW. i. W.J E. laadSW. }., W. I and NE.. i. S. landNE. i.., SW.i , W.i. S. iandMW. i. E. 1. N. landSE. I.. N. k and SW. i. W.J E.J All W.J W.J /.. W.J.. SE. J. SW.andNE. i. N.J SE J SE. {.. All NW.J. S. i and NE. \. SE. i. S. JshdNE. { NW. J.. NW.l All S. JandNE.). NW.J N.J. SE. i- N. i and SW. J. N. J and SW. i- All.. SE.i SE.i Si Township Ranga north. west. 57 33 57 33 57 33 57 33 57 33 57 33 57 33 56 33 56 33 56 33 56 33 56 33 56 33 56 33 56 33 56 33 56 33 56 33 56 33 56 33 56 33 56 33 56 33 56 33 55 33 55 33 55 33 55 33 55 33 55 33 55 33 55 33 55 33 55 33 55 34 55 34 55 34 55 34 55 34 55 34 55 34 lAst of the mineral lands in t/ie region between Portage lake and the Mon- treal river. iiK «'4 Section. '■I '°i',? : :i S5 35 36 1 3 10 11 15 Part. SE.J E. I and SW. \ . All NW.J N. } and SW. J. E. 4 and SW. J . W ' N.'i'and "s W.' C Township Range north. west. 53 37 53 37 53 37 51 37 51 37 51 37 51 37 51 37 tued. up Range west. ■ Doc. No. 69. 95 32 33 32 33 32 33 33 32 32 33 39 39 39 32 32 33 33 33 33 33 33 33 33 33 33 33 33 33 33 33 33 33 33 33 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 lAst mineral lands between Portage lake and Montreal river — Continued. vnd the Mon- hip Range h. west. 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 Section. Part. 16 21 33 29 30 31 32 25 2fi 34 35 36 6 7 1 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 21 22 29 .30 31 32 25 33 34 35 36 4 5 « 7 1 2 3 10 11 i3 S. .... All , NW. i. SW. {.. S.J N. i ,.. NW.i W. i and SE. i. N.i. E. i and SW. i- All N. i and SW |. N. i and HW. J. NW. J......... SE.I Si ?:i N. i and SW. J. NW.J N. i and SW. i. All E. NE.i NW. J All All.... N.i NW.t Si Si Si N.I All N-i All All N.i E. iandSW. i. S-i SB. i NE.i N.i N.i Township Range north. weal. 51 37 51 37 51 37 51 37 51 37 51 37 51 37 SI 38 51 36 51 38 51 -38 51 38 50 38 50 38 50 39 50 39 50 39 50 39 • 50 39 50 39 50 39 50 39 50 39 50 39 50 39 50 39 50 39 50 39 50 40 50 40 50 40 50 40 50 40 49 40 49 40 49 40 49 40 49 41 49 41 49 41 49 41 49 41 49 41 List of the mineral lands of Isle Royale, Lake Superior land district. Section. / i" ■■ Part. Townahip north. Range weat. 3 N. 1 67 67 67 67 67 67 67 67 67 67 32 4 21 SE. * 33 33 22 SW. i 33 23 S. J ; , 33 24 N. iandSW. 1 33 26 N. I - 83 27 All. 39 28 All 33 31 AH 33 m Dw, No. 6^v •ti «4 !| 11-.. ;i;;, List of the mineral lands of Isle lioyale — Continued. .,*•.. -uj Section. Paru Township north. Range west. 32 All 67 67 67 67 66 66 66 66 66 66 66 67 67 67 . 67 66 66 66 66 66 «6 66 66 66 66 66 66 66 66 66 66 66 66 66 66 66 66 66 66 66 66 66 66 66 66 65 65 65 65 65 65 65 65 65 63 65 66 66 66 66 66 6G 33 33 All 33 34 All 33 35 3 N^ NW. i , 33 33 4 N. iandSW. i '. 33 5 All 33 6 All 33 7 Ail 33 8 N. J 33 18 NW. 4 33 33 SW. i 34 34 E. t andSW. 1 34 35 SW. i 34 36 SE. i ... 34 1 AH 34 3 All 34 3 3. ^ 34 4 34 5 NE. and S W. quarters , . • 34 8 AH 34 9 34 10 All •••• 34 11 SE. 1 34 13 N. iandSW.l 34 13 All., 34 14 N W. and SE. quarters 34 15 S. i and NE. i 34 16 34 17 34 18 34 20 34 21 34 22 31 23 W. I and UE. i 34 24 NW. 1 34 26 All 34 27 S. i 34 28 AH 34 29 N. JandSE. i ...., 34 30 S iand NE. i 34 31 NE. and SW. auarters ..•••• 34 33 E.J 34 34 N. i and SE. 1 34 35 All 34 3 3 W. iandNE. i 34 34 7 SE. i 34 8 34 9 All 34 10 N. iandSW. i 34 16 NW. 1 34 17 All..... 34 18 All 34 19 N. i andSW. 1 34 20 NW. i , 34 13 35 32 S. i 35 33 Ai^;::::::::::::::!:;"!"*:""::"!"::""."!.. 35 24 35 36 N.JlandSW. { NW. J 35 33 35 . I. MS ■ HC- II. ♦^ w ^^,J)oc. No. 69. K97 Range west. 33 33 33 33 33 33 33 33 33 33 33 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 31 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 35 35 35 35 35 35 LiBt of the mineral hnefs of hie Royale — Continued. »* « All All SE. 4 E.iandSW N.} E. iand^Vir. | SE 1 E. \ and SW. { All All All E. iandSW. i N.J E. iandSW. i , S. landNW. i All All ... . S. JandNW. i S. iandNW. \ N. landSE. i N.i NW. J All NE. and SW. quarters, All NE. J NW.J..... SE.| N.i S. AandNE. 4 All s.i • 8. landME. 1 All All N. iandSW. i Si Si All All N. iiandSE. \.. ...... All NW. and SE.qaarters NE.i N. iandSW. 1 SE. J ..;.. All ;,... All S. i and NE.i All Nw! i- SB. i. NW. \ NE. and S W. quarters. SE. i... N. iandSW. i NW.i S.i All NW.i N. iandSW. 1 nubip Range orth. weeu 66 35 66 95 68 35 66 35 66 35 66 35 66 35 66 35 65 35 65 35 65 35 66 35 65 35 65 35 65 35 65 35 66 35 66 35 65 35 65 35 65 35 65 35 65 35 65 35 66 35 65 35 65 35 65 35 65 35 65 35 65 35 65 35 65 35 65 35 65 35 65 35 65 36 65 36 65 36 65 36 65 36 65 36 65 36 65 36 65 36 65 36 65 36 65 36 66 36 65 36 65 36 65 ' 36 65 36 65 36 65 36 65 36 65 36 65 36 65 36 6S 36 64 36 a9 If.' \i 1 1 1 t i ^^^W '1 i Um. ^1w' ■■'ttd^'W'89."* .•.VA.**^' \ ^ '> f I Section. 0»; 4 2e 7 f,C 8 *« 9 tr. 18 {; 21 n 23 a*; 25 ■^n 26 8!* 27 m 28 as 30 DC 31 ?!v 32 d^ 34 e£ 35 5f: 6 Sfi 24 U 25 »f. 26 :<(!. 35 !^: 36 1 2 9 10 11 Z,Mf of the minerul lands of Itle Rot ale — Continuod. Part. i- S£ S. i and HE. i. NW.i N.J SE.i , ME. and SW. quarters.. N. i :, 8. JandNW. i NE. andSW. quarters.. 8E i BE.i ME. and SW. quarters. S. JandNW. 4 M. iandSW. i....... SE. i SW. i S.l NW.' SE. ^ S. i and MC. 1. N. ' i- N. iandSW. i- S. landNE. i.. N. iandSE. i-. w.y All. SE.i. S. i and NE. {. N. .i- NW. {.. NE. and SW. quarters. N. iandSE. i S.i S. iandNE. i. All NW. and SE quarters., SE. and NW. qusrtcra. S-i 8. ^ and NE. S. k and NE. i N. i. 8. ianoNE. {.. S. I and N .V. {. SE.i N. tandSW.l. NE. i NW.i NW. I SE. i 8. 4andNE. i.. SE. i E- i All N.i N 4 SW. } All SW. J Township north. S4 64 64 64 64 65 65 66 65 65 65 65 65 65 65 65 64 64 64 64 64 64 64 64 64 64 64 64 64 64 64 64 64 64 64 64 64 6t 64 64 64 64 64 64 C4 64 64 64 64 63 64 64 64 64 64 .63 63 63 63 63 Rang* 36 3ft 3(> 36 36 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 '37 37 •ST 37 37 37 37 .3T 37 38- 38^ 3& 3* 38 3» 3» 3i* 38 3» 38 38 38 38 38 38 3H 38 38 38- 38 3» 38 3» •S9 31> m 39 39 3*» 3«J 39 39 .f>P«9,->N.« 36 36 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 '37 37 V H I «^ , 3T 37 37 37 3» 38 3* 3» 38 3» 3» 3» 36 3» 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 38 39 38- 38 3» 3fr 3*» 3» 3» 3ft 39 1 3a 3t» 1 39 1 3» 39 CBTAPTER IV. ^ uo nsH/n tWKirmn ^(it U ;^t r. , • STRATIFIED AND 8ED1MENTART ROCKP. f WOlDhBViOII ;U 'fti ^,^Jplass%Jicationof the sedimentary rocks. — Conglfm„erate. — Extvrnetl charac- 'l„^^ ters. — Imbedded fragments of a jaspery rock. — Range and extent. — i. Keweenaw Point — Veim. — Attempts at mining. — Poreupim mouut- , 'f|!^ ains, — Montreal river. — Section of t/te rocks. — Mining in Oottghtne- .y,\^ rate. — Divisional planes. — Sandstone. — Range and extent. — Com- ' , pact or lower ma^nesian limesione. — Range and cvtent. — Orsranie rematns. — Hesumc. - . > ;,, ..,,. Having attempted, with some degree of rmnuteness, in the preceding chapter, to set forih the boundaries, range, extent, and pecnh'arities of the igneous rocks of the copper region, it now recnains to describe the as- sociated sedimentary rocks, which may be regarded as nearly contempo- ^ijraiieous. These may be comprised under three divisions, to which are appended the equivalents in the New York classification: i >t! '^ym fjua ,'}>f»T?< I. Conglomerate. — Not strictly a sedimentary rock, but a volcanic tuff. :.'' II. Inferior sandstone. — Potsdam sandstone. . III. Compact or lower magnesian limestone. — Calcifejco.us sapds^one, Chazy limestone, Uird's-eye and Black river limestone. ,^ .!^,! /i> .^n ■■.,X« Conglomerate — external c/uiracters. — The conglomerate of Kewee- naw Point and Isle Royale consists of rounded pebbles of trap, almost invariably of the variety known as amygdaloid, derived probably from the contemporaneous lavas, and rounded fragments of a jaspery rock which may have been a metamorphosed sandstone, the whole cemented by a dark-red iron sand. This cement maybe regarded -a a mixture of vol- canic ash and arenaceous particles, the latter haviij^ ;;oen derived from the sandstone then in the progress of accumulation. l.t is not unusual to meet with strata composed entirely of arenaceous particles associated with the conglomerate beds; and where these expand to a considerable thickness, the associated sandstone appears in alternating bands of white and red, and exhilj;ts few traces of metamorphism; but where the belts of sedimentary rock are thin, and come in contact with the trappean rocks, the sandstone is converted into a jaspery rock, traversed by divi- sional planes, and breaking with a conchoidal fracture The trappean pebbles oilen attain a magnitude of eighteen inches in diameter. Their surfaces do not present that smooth, polisheed appearance which results from the attrition of water; in fact, a close observer can readily distinguish between those which have been recerrtly detatched from the rock and those which have been for a time exposed to the recent action of the surf. The conglomerate appears to have been formed too rapidly to suppose that the masses were detached and rounded by the action of waves and currents, and deposited with silt and sand on the floor of the ancient ocean; for, while the contemporaneous sandstone remote from the line ol i I §3'[: '§ W ;1 0' '\ 00 •%oc. No. 69. I' b9 .« V *«? nr. ill) i i,.,. Irr: volcanic foci does not exceed three hnndred or four hundred feet In thick ness, the united thickness of the congloniernte bands in the vicinity of the trappean range on Keweeimw Point exceeds five thousand feet. Ab we recede for a few miles from ihu luje of the volcanic fissure, theso amygdaloid pebbles disappear, and ave replaced by arenaceous and argilla- ceous particles. We are, therefore, disposed to aiiopt the theory, as to the origin of such masses, first suggested by Von Buch:* "When basaltic islands and trachytic rocks rise on fissures, friction of the elevated rock against the walls of the fissures causes the elevated rock to be enclosed by conglomerates composed of its own matter. The granules compo- sing the sandstones of many formations have been separated ratlier by friction against the erupted volcanic rock than destroyed by the erosive force of a neighboring sea. The existence of these friction conglomerates, which are met with in enormous masses in both hemispheres, testifies the intensity of the force with which the erupted rocks have been pro- pelled from the interior through the earth's crust. The detritus has sud- denly been taken up by the waters, which have then deposited it in the strata which it still covers." Those pebbles having a highly vesicular structure may have been ■ejected through the fissures, ni the form of scoriaj, while in a plastic state, and have received their rounded shape from having been projected through water — on the same principle as melted lead, when dropped from an elevation, assumes a globular form.f In the jaspery fragments included in the conglomerate, we often observe a structure analogous to the woody fibre of trees. Those fragments (plate, fig. 2) are composed of laminte, more or less contorted, and furrowed longi- tudinally, like the markings in the extinct plants of the genus sigillaria. A .series of strite, as fine as the engraver's lines, run parallel with ihe'larger ones. Theso can be traced on isome of the specimens, and generally ■extend through the different folds; while others po.sscss a structure like the ceiiular tissue of wood. We havo no confidoncc in the vegetable -origin of these markings; nor have we any theoiy to offer in explanation. ■ While there are no beds of calcareous rocks associated with this group, •we. have evidence that the waters during this epoch were abundantly 'Charged with lime; for we find this substance, in the form of calc-spar, fill- ing the vesicles of the amygdaloid and tlie fissures and pores in the con- .glomerate. It did not result from deposition, but appears to have been forced into the interstices while in a heated condition, and perhaps in a 4State of gaseous sublimation. * We know that modern volcanoes evolve vast quantities of gases which •are capable of dissolving vari us earthy substances; and is it not reason- able to suppose that the same phenomena were exhibited in the early history of our planet, and on a grander scale, when the conimunications Avith the interior were more numerous and extended, and when the rdcur- «nce of earthqualie shocks and volcanic eruptions was mpre frequent '( ." Jv J'lX I ,:n. i! *GcognoBt. Briefe, 8. 75—83. ^The extinct volr.aTioea of Auvergne afford numerous Bpecimons cf volcanic hombt, which ap- pear to have been ejected in a soft state, and, on cooling in ti)e air, assunned the form of drops or eloi'gated spheroids. ,: . -;;„; . -x, i im.j -h.w ffj^i-nu;''!. « 4•); •'^t n. ^ They are ieniiforra jnassos, variable in number and thickness. On Keweenaw Ppint they are numerous, and nossess much regularity, ran- giiig with tlie trap, and dipping to the N. anu NW. at angles varying from 20* to 50°. In the Ontonagmi district they are less numerous, but near the Montreal river they expand to an enormous thickness. Ou Isle Royale they occur under similar conditions with those observed on Keweenaw Point, with this exception, that the dip is reversed — vary* • inff from 20" to 40^ to the SE. and SSE. - Manitpu island is composed of conglomerate, except a few jutting points on the sicmthern coast, which belong to the northern band of trap. Cross* ing the channel, which is about three miles in width, we meet with this belt on the northeastern extremity of Keweenaw Point, and thence it is S>rotracted west for about sixteen miles, when it becomes lost in the lake. *^or a greater portion of this distance it serves as a sea-wall; but in a fev E laces the water has broken through and excavated long and narrow arbors in the more yielding trap. The amiended sketch of Horse- shoe Harbor will serve to convey an idea of the appearance of this rock. It occurs in long lines, with rounded contours, and is traversed by heavy fissures, filled with calc- spar. '"!' ' "" - '--i- ■'"■•''-"■« v" ««u.v/i.j, A short distance west of Horse-shoe Harbor a spar vein intersects th« shore, which in places is nine feet iti width, and bears N. 5° E. It affords an excellent material for lime, and has been calcined for that purpose. On this a shafl was sunk near the junction of the trap and conglomerate, but no indiuations of copper were disclosed. On Hays's Point another spar vein, four feet in thickness, and bearing N. 9° E., is seen. The matrix is more or less colored with green and blue silicate of copper, forming the "green rock*' of the old voyageurs. Several shaAs were sunk upon it in the early days of copper-mining, but the ore was too meagre to be profitable. This vein undoubtedly extends throuj^i the intervening tmp, and is developed in the second belt of con- glo^nerate near Fort Villans, forming what is known as the Black Oxide The junction between the trap and conglomerate is welt displayed ih the vicinity of Copper Harbor. The rocks bear nearly due west, with a northerly dip of 35". The trap on the upper surface •resembles pumice, the vesicles frequently empty, but oftener filled with calc-spar, agates^ • chlorite, d^c. Other portions are wrinkled, as though arrested while flow> ing. The lower portion of the conglomerate does not exhibit a clear and well-defiiled line of demarcation, but encbses angular masses of amygda- loid, as though the materials had been thrown down while the trap was in a viscid state. This appearance was particularly noticed a few hun- dred yards above Porter s island* where the pebbles, for the distance of twenty feet perpendicular, are enclosed in a scoriaceous mass. Between Copper Harbor and Agate Harbor numerous veins, cutting the formation at nearly right angleS) are observed. The matrix for thV I M 1 ft ;i!i 1 1 1 ■ ■■', 'i'l ' ';.^ ' :( -1 S ; i 1 ! * 102 Doc. No. 69 .<1 most part consists of calc-spar, but occasionally sulphate of baryta is * present. Many of them have been explored, and from one, on the south- '^ west quarter oi section 28, township 59. range 29, a mass of native cojp> ^ per weighing about GOO lbs. was taken. f "/ '', ' ' '!' At Agate Harbor the ISew York and Lake Superior Compatiysfttik two^*^ shafts to the respective depths of 70 and %*feet, and nearly completed ' the communication between th«m by a gallery. The matrix of the vein '^ consisted of calc spar and sulphate of baryta, with black sulphuret of • copper, but not in sufficient abundance to authorize further operations. '*■ This belt forms the outer reef at Agate Harbor, and does not again ' approach the shore. Another belt of conglomerate starts from the extreniity of Keweenaw*^' Point, opposite Manitou island, and conforms in direction to the one last described, from which it is separated by a sheet of igneous rock about ' 1,800 feet in thickness. This is known as the main conglomerate raitge. ' In places it rises to the height of 650 feet, and expands to a thicktiess of 4,000 feet^ The culminating points in ihe range are back of Ho!fte-shoe ! Harbor and Grand Marais. It intersects the coast at Sand bay, and pre- ", scribes its form as far as the Lake-shore location, section 33, township 68, ' range 32, when it bends inland and is prolonged towards Portage lake] in a narrow band, which is obscurely traced, ft does not differ in iithOr* logical character from the belt previously described. ^'." '••''^ '1 The appended sketch, taken from Fort Wilkins, looking eastward, will ' convey a correct idea of the contour of the hills. The gentle slope iowards the lake corresponds very nearly with the line of inclination, \ while the precipitous escarpments on the south may have resulted from powerful Assures, which destroyed the continuity of the strata. This belt, like the former one, contains numerous traces of copper. In preparing the ground where Fort Wilkins now stands, the soldiers came across numerous boulders of black oxide of copper, varying in weight from an ounce to several hiindred pounds. Subsequently a vein was dicovered a few rods east of the fort, from fifteen to twenty inches in width, bearing N. 7° E., and corresponding very nearly in direction and E>sition to that before described as occurring m the northern belt on ' ays's Point. The gangue consisted of calc-spar, analcime, laumonite, told occasional crystals of fluor-spar, associated with which were the^een ' and blue silicates and the black oxide of copper. This tract had been ' located by the Pittsburg and Boston Company, and was the^r«^ location naade after the extinguishment of the Indian title in 1843. They may,' therefore, be regarded as the pioneers in mining enterprise. A part of their \pining force was directied to the exploration of this .Tein. It was found, near the surface, to consist of the black oxide of copper of surpassing richness, yielding from 60 to 70 per cent. Two shans were sunk about 100 feet apart, and the black oxide found in both, ' but, at the depth of fifteen feet, it became exhausted. The fisgure and Teinstone continued, which induced the company to prosecute further workings, in the hope that the mineral would reappear. Accordingly, the main shaft WAS extended to the depth of 120 feet, and levels driven in either direction, on the course of the vein, until it became manifest that it was unwise to proceed further.* The aggregate expenditures at this' • Report of the truBt«e«, (1849.) Doc. Na Doc. No. 69. (I is generally shaly, and soon crumbles by the influence of atmospheric agen- cies. These alternations are finely exposed in the bed of the river, which has cut a deep gorge for some distance nearly parallel with the course of the beds. The falls of this river, which have been before noticed, axe caused by the unequal wearing of the beds of trap and sandstone, and are highly picturesque. The width of the intercalated beds of shaly sandstone varies from fifteen to nearly one hundred feet. They alternate with beds of trap of nearly equal thickness. The depth of the goigi» varies firom one hundred to one hundred and fifty feet. •„. ;r .fy< ::iv,..a^.fn ; • ; .,..i^u...,: ' . ... .., , , . i:Ui i y -■ ■ ■■'■ )i'':(iv/ ii-i '/t i;i:i! /tu.-i _■;;.-, y ', i.t \. - ■■;.■ 'I'll i:>; i' I *•; ":; h.. -■rn '<: ^\ a \s i . ; . ' ; , ,1 1 ,*sf-+ ; ■ I "; '••■' \\ ^pi'A^A T <% ';(i. "t ,.' > ■\ .' 'd '0 J ■.■•■.-■ ■ ; .f ',■■•■, • '■l,l'. ; '. -r.f:.:': '■• \ , '■,• 'i i ' '. J ci'jV , ' •^(. ■::■ -it ; ■• i.' *: ' I " < J :>:'■ ;;i lUl-A I'l! .',:' ' ' ! ' ' f)V ■■ ■-. ' . ' ; ■■ -rr • ' > ;< ■• : K Mi- .:■ ;.■ 1,*; :, ■ I) .' •■ ";i- /r '■'•'■'; f- ; ' t " f ' '<\i'' h ' ; . 'J I," ■'■ i ',. .■., :■■ -{••■,-, . ( ' ' .' I ! ■ • -.!; I •t* ,'. ; * v. -l.n. • , i ■ 1 ;i,- ■< ■■, ■".V • t ]■. i:<-.u\r-\ ( I,.. 'I'- - ■; * r,i',: -.aw ■ i'tuO liCiii r'lV I l'"'i r. ■■■. . ■ > » »•■ ^ , ! • r'' r ■ ■. f ■ J ■ 'IT. ; :; ill. ./•■ .1.' •!',>•;■ r ■ 'i i ' ' ; *" •' ; ' ' !■ ':'<: ■•(?> ■ i ! 1 • • 0;, ' ''■'■' '' ■-: '■■■■'■■ I. rA' r 1. if!!i..'"f >,''>'•,■•• ■ ■ •( ' : •. L. ! ■ ' 'I. - If J' ■ I a;:.,/: .>■■ ■ ■■, r.i'' ' ' •• A \\ . ': ■;i' • ";i . . '■■: ; ,-, . ;• ; ' . -.-.I I ..i , ' ')'■ t' -■- .. ■ ; ■ '.h/^r.: ! ,1 r<; 1 • .1; , ' '!< !' I . ! V ;-'4 I I- - . i t Hi- )i vhich iweof i, aie i, and shaly Bmate gorg? ; 'i'll^lll i <■ '■ -■ ■' / ^■^'v - V "i" i- T'-i l«i^ I 'v^ai.. Montreal rirer. '«♦•■ i'l- --5 ,, ■ti^s,,■.J.^.. .V --.■ ■ • i-Vs ■ ■ ■ ■. V.' • -^ ;■! r ■■■■'., ul." r? . .' ' ' /■^ i>-^.. 'f j*^ •■'i^'iV'.,,, 'ri :>-.. ,---t'- .■■-"■.. r- .♦■■ _, , _■ . r.- . / 4 . r' ^**» ■ ' --tj* w ,-:':^#'' ..- ^ ■' ' ; v-V ..■ ! ;.. « . -^ "r. ." s An atte] Itownship denhall M were exp( aban(lone( had been were filled may be ob creek, whi phate of b variable q sometimes getfeer n width, tained. 1 mixed witl WTe were i inhere the < vith a g'rat leeding so wuthof th Bck. Th( ifimperfec trace the Joth carbo irystallized iiderable in calene tria ocality in gate were ■ lave been j The min: urrence of re not rehf We have rap and coi lean range, he Bohemi 1 thin band erved, whi nclination ] rates, lyinj gneous pro iimulations linal axis \ emained cc Divisiona ppUcable t( l^nal planes —jrmity, gi\ ight line; ' sudden \\ Doc. No. 69. ^i 107 1 An attempt at n' g was made in the conglomerate on section 18, township 50, range ,^ a few miles west of the Ontonagon, by the Men- denhall Mining Company; and we are informed that not less than $10,000 were expended on the undertaking. At the time of our visit, it was abandoned. Several shafts, one of which reached to the depth of 1 00 feet, had been sunk, and galleries run from one to the other; the whole of which vere filled with water. The bearing of the vein is north 17° Avest and may be observed cropping out in the bed of a small stream called Mineral creek, which crosses the location. The gangue is calcareous spar and sul- phate of baryta, in which the gray sulphuret of copper occurs in very variable quantities, intermixed with silica. The vein varies in width; sometimes it is split into numerous threads, and again it disappears alto- gether. Some of the specimens of solid ore were Irom four to five inches n width, and we were informed that but a few barrels of this had been ob- tained. That lying about the shafts was very meagre, being mostly spar, nixed with conglomerate, and containing a small per centage of copper. UTe were informed that the deepest shaft had been carried down below where the Ore was found in Die vein. Here the vein pitched to the west, vith a gradually increased angle, and was underlaid by sandstone. Pro- leeding southwardly, it became poorer, and the shaft sunk a few rods outhof the main one, after having reached a few feet, was in barren ock. The veinstone was, at this point, composed of a curious mixture )f imperfect agate and calc-spar, in alteied sandstone. Efforts were made trace the vein into the trap, which is contiguous, but without success, loth carbonate of lime and sulphate of baryta are here found in finely irystallized specimens. The former occurs m hemitropic crystals of con- iderable interest to the crystallographer. They are a combination of the icalene triangular dodecahedron, of a form hitherto found at only one ocality in Siberia; also, in six-sided prisms. Some of the varieties of gate were very beautiful, and it is to be regretted that good suites could not lave been secured for the government collection. '/' The mining operations here have thrown considerable light on the o6- lurrence of copper in the detrital rocks, and demonstrated that these veins ire not reliable ones. We have, in another chapter, described the numerous alternations of rap and conglomerate which occur along the northern slope of the trap- lean range. Along the southern slope these belts are very rare. Where he Bohemian range breaks through the incumbent rocks at Lac la Belle, thin band of conglomerate, not exceeding 30 feet in thickngss, is ob- erved, which has been traced, at intervals, for two or three n.iles. Its ticlination is 80^ to the south and southeast. Regarding these conglom- rates, lying north of the anticlinal axis, as composed, in the itiain, of neous products, and the sandstones, on the south, as purely detrital ac- umulations, we are led to infer that, while the region north of the anti- linal axis was subject to a series of volcanic outbreaks, that to the south emained comparatively tranquil. Divisional planes. — The conglomerate rocks — and the same remarks are pplicable to the sandstones — are traversed by different systems of divis- nal planes, which are found to preserve a remarkable degree of ujii- rmity, giving to the mass a crystalliform appearance. They pursue traight lines, without any deviation, and extend to unknown depths; and sudden was the shock by which these fissures were formed, that the 108 Doc- No. 69r(| J'' wv \ intervening pebbles are cut in twain. The main fissures pursue a cpurse varying but a few degrees from the true magnetic meridian, which is found to be the case in other countries. The rocks traversed by these fissures often exhibit not only a vertical, but horizontal dislocation. To convey an idea of their direction and uniformity, we submit the following observations taken with great care by Mr. Hill; U l"if:.;f. MAIN FISSURES, iH Commencing at the western extremity of the point north of Agate Harbor, and thence running east. ;rU. Links. 0.... 30.... wd» • • • 9«» • • • 68« •• • bit • • • 90.... 182.... 350.... 300. . . . 310.... 430.... 535. .. 720.... 820. ... 850.,.. 975.... 1233.... 1275.. 1380.. 1500.. 1550.. 1610.. 1650.. 1750. . Course. North, 12 degrees east. North, 10 degrees east. Ndrih, 8 degrees east. , North, 10 degrees east., North, 10 degrees east. , North, 13 degrees east., North, 18 degrees east.. North, 13 degrees east., North, 8 degrees east.. North North, 8 degrees eait., North North Northeast North, 10 degrees east.. North, 5 degrees east. Northeast. North North, 13 degre«s east. North, 30 degrees east North , North, 10 degrees west North North, 45 degrees east. North Dip. East. East, East. • '■•i- EnsL . • East. * East. -1- \ . East 74 degrees. EasU East. East. -^' East. ::.// -,:■ East. Southeast 45 degrees. East. 4- , . Kast. East 80 degrees. ' East. East. Easu ± ': „^;;;; Southeast. < East. CROSS-PRACTURES. ' Course. Dip. , East South 70 degrees. South 72 degrees. Soutk. 1 ■ " » East ' South, 80 degrees east. , South, 30 degrees east. Soith, 20 d^rees east. • ■ ' f . N. frikl '•'lDdc No. 69 01109 Near Salmon Trout river, the sandstone exhibited several sets of frac- tures—one set bearing north, another north 60° east, another north 60° west, and another north 40° east. Several of the blocks formed by the lines of division yere measured. The following figures represent their forms: j./ti ii !,-,'iiJii.>| -',-,(!, u}.A-LHiil l>u u ; r(...J i S.lOoW. , f > FiR. 14. S. 28° W. \r ■:l >i S. 40° W. ^ laoo. 60O. 100°. 80°. if S. BOO W 95®. 85°. m: At Siskawit bay, Isle Royale, two sets of fissures were observed in the sandstone — one bearing south and southeast, the other south 40° and 60° Avest. A further detail of observations on this head is deemed unnecessary, as they all go to prove the general principles before announced. Although the conglomerate attains a thickness of five thousand feet, yet it by no means follows that the ancient sea in which it was deposited extend- ed to that depth. Ripple-marks and clay-cracks have been observed in the upper portions of this group; the one indicates comparatively^ shoal water,* and the other the ebbing and flowing of a tide, or a change in the level of the water. The inference, therefore, is, that during the deposition of the conglom- erate, the bed of the sea was subject to repeated elevations and depres- sions, caused by volcanic action, and that its waters obeyed the same* tidal laws which govern the existing oceans. These conglomerates, then, may be regarded as local deposites, formed along the courses of the volcanic fissures by the joint agency of fire and water. When the former causes operated with intensity, the materials consisted of spherical masses of lava and scoria?. When they acted feebly, or were quiescent, the materials became argillaceous or arenaceous. Sandstone. — It is not our purpose in this report to set forth the boun- daries of the sandstone, much less to describe its characters, where it comes in contact with the pre-existing rocks. These descriptions will be reserved for the general report on the palajozoic rocks of this district. We propose simply, at this time, to show its connexion with the cupriferous rocks before described. In order that this connexion may be better un- derstood, we introduce the following diagram: Fig. 15. Isle Royale. . << ri' Keweenaw Folnt. Lake Superior. a. a Crystalline trap. b. b. Bedded trap. e. e. Conglomerate. d. d. Sandstone. •Ue la Beche states that the surface-action of the ocean does not affect the Inittom beyond the depth of ninety feet. Divers are said to find the water still at that depth during a toripest. Stevenson, however, asserts that the agitations of the sea reach to the depth of twj hundred feet. lUllO (i^Doc. No. 69. '■'■> Ml < tM K |^^« li;; We have seen that, during the deposition of the sandstone, nuiuerous ' sheets of trap were ejected, and flowed like Java- streams; and that the igHcous and aqueous products were so intermingled as to present the ap- pearance of having been derived from a common origin; and that subse quently the unbedded trap broke through these parallel fissures, lifting up the sandstones, conglomerates, and bedded traps, and causing the whole mass to dip at high angles. Thus, this portion of the bed of Lake Su perior is due to these two lines of upheaval. The sandstone between the two lines performs an immense curve, portions of which are at least 800 feet below the chord lormed by the surface of the water. The sand- stone is seen on Isle Royale, forming the outer reefs of Siskawit bay. It is of a dark -red color, somewhat fissile, and traversed by numerous divis- ional planes. Thin beds of conglomerate, composed of trappean pebbles, are seen, the whole dipping to the southeast about 8°. This is not a purely silicious rock, but takes into its composition argillaceous particles with an admixture of oxide of iron. Passing over to the southern shore the sandstone is first seen on Keweenaw Point, in low reefs, near the Lake-shore locatibn, (section 1, township 57, range 33,) beyond which ponit, proceeding eastward, it is succeeded by the congloir?''rate, which rests beneath it. Proceeding westerly, the trap recedes from the shore, and the intervening space is occupied by the sandstone, forming a beh about ten miles in width. About a mile above the Portage, a good opportunity is afforded for ex amination. Here commence a series of bold cliffs, which line the coast for several miles. They are composed of strata of unequal thickness and induration. Some of the strata consist of silex, with thin plates oi mica interspersed, while others contain portions of alumine, colored led by oxide of iron. The silicious strata afibrd excellent building materi als, and the supply is inexhaustible. Slabs vaiying from two inches to two feet in thickness, and exposing perfectly level surfaces of forty or fi superficial feet, can readily be procured. The rock is sufficiently indurateii to give it strength, and is litde affected by atmospheric agents. The watei is of sufficient depth to permit vessels to approach within a few rodso the shore. The unequal resistance which the strata oppose to the action of thi surf has caused the cliffs to assume various fantastic shapes. The harder beds project like cornices, and can be traced almost as far t"he eye can reach. In the softer materials, the waves have scooped out numeroui caverns, resembling gothic doorways. The nearly horizontal stratifica' tion of the rocks, their brick-red color, with occasional bands of a lightet tint, and the numerous vertical fissures by which they are intersected, cause them to resemble immense walls of masonry piled up by the haaip of man. These cliffs do not range in continuous lines, but exhibit numeroi projections and recessions. Peaks shoot u[i above the mass, like towers, connected by walls, which at the base are excavated into arches and gate ways. The whole is crowned by a dense mass of foliage of the bircli,! the mountain ash, the fir, and the spruce. From this mass issue numer- ous fountains, which precipitate themselves for fifty or sixty feet befoB they mingle with the lake. These cliffs may be regarded as a miniatiiBJ representation of the Pictured Rocks. As we recede from the trap, the dip of the sandstone diminishes rap-l i, i angles with the planes of stratification, it is found to be a sphere or ! I •int it is ob- les Temt)y«d it of contact, ap range by . good expo- s almost in- cinity of the chith. Judge mntains dip- and trap will n from Lake , in township ccupying the I the northern 'lomerate are, 'oint, (section Jstone is seen m the trap, at • three-fourths itirely of sili- Q section 36, thin band of rhite and red lay, when the mense curves, range. Thi? )roblem of the sociated sand- lere distinctly e sandstone is Jete Gris bay. it reposes in a eepred color, drous peroxide , at first sight, ith pure white ck correspond- icretions are so them at right il ■')! sphere or ball m ^ n: M^ vv \f \' <:*%!» 8 1 o s f s 5 I "* M ^ § at '^ o a ■■•'" '"- "-I-O' *^,|f'f,irV ■ -f^i Lake Superior. )i^^ ki'i-i: *vKl «t,M! '' -•Carpriver. , „^^^^,,^..- ; .■*,^^,.,< • > ' ''.',.»'.' ;> :ll|j ,:,■ f>>; 'if: ^ , y^ ,V .,-> •■•''" ', >; 1. ■ • ,r: f\f , ,i\ iff ■■ I ■ f ■;•*'■■'. ... . t: i.. .-hi. , 4? 1,400. Ontonagon riter. A1 ? * ■ «>fi .I^'.r>|ll1 tMtji: « * 1 kl ''!'■ MMtH' ti ru^iA i*fi\ \W<<^'* "i • ■ •* «(. ! ...'I ,,^*n\.^> ■■ iHtUti'.i>\ Ml «tr- V':.^<*! ^v* -«•« .,..1. i . t' .J.I i ,..). . t> ' liij V ■■♦■■'I. i , 1 ,f|i ■'■ "' ■<■ ' '/■'*> if. ■ 1 ' • ', •• - .. J. J' ,^ vll r 'it -» '»," i» >l'!.i''. , ■• Y :-rx5 \ *♦ ^^ .1 .|. ,., .». f» !-• ( »'•' .«■•>. t >.>*'■»>'»''* """'"' ^ • ^ ' • t" ,.■•- ) 4 ■ Al , Wl'l ■-> ■ 1 -Ml. ,1 "« -I / i H t \> " . ':,j ■,, )>(»v: '•'..: ..1^ •' if '■■' 1 ■■' *V" ■ ■ ',MI'«- ■ ■'■'■' * ■ *• '•'1 % ,;,K, .\m!:' ,' ■::«!(,;;; .il ' .'''.; f i • ■ir. 1 -. ,V |n.') i: , .. lU 1 >■ H, / 1' •"! -^ . . > 1 .V -^i ■ If •, 1 .!. ■ : -1 , ' 1 V, _ 1 • r* (;>:■'■ ' ' i I ,v ' > / ! ., L.f %^ ' 1 1^ Doo. No. 60. 115 r enveloping Ihe black speck which served as a nnelea§. Thls'peciiliarity in the sandstone has been noticed at frequent intervals as far oast as the ' Pictured Rocks, and even at the outlet of the lake, though "at the latter'" place less perfectly developed. At Tobacco river the sandstone is finely displayed in alternating bandg '' of whke and red, forming cliffs fifty or sixty feet in height. Just before f its entrance into the lake, the stream ia precipitated over a ledge of this '^ rock from a height often feet. The aboriginal name of the river is Wa- '' snkodewabikasc-sepi, or Burnt Stone river, from the prevailing tint of the ■ rock. The present name applies to the dark color of the water furnished ■' by the cedar swamps which skirt the base of the Bohemian mountains. Along the shore the sandstone is beautifully variegated — parallel bands of a flesh red color crossing the mass without reference to stratification, • and forming a striking contrast with the bnfl' color which constitutes the prevailing tint. (Plate XII, fig. 1, retro.) Proceoding up Keweenaw bay, we find the sandstone lining the sli > es in bold cliffs, with occasional entering bays; but there are places wherslor miles it is impossible to find a boat-harbor. The stratification is hori'5 >n- tal, or rather consists of numerous gentle undulations. The waves have excavated caverns in the clitfs, and fashioned them into many grotesque forms. The prevailing dip of the sandstone, we inferred, was about 5'^ to the northwest. At one or two paints wo noticed thitt the strata had un- dergone alight vortical dislocations. As we approach L'Anse, the dip to the northwest becomes apparent, and a change in the external characters is noted. The grains become coarser, and pebbles of white quartz are dis-" seininatod through the mass.. We rarely meet with a pebble of green- stone or amygdaloid. At Crebbesa's (section 'diy, township .51, range 33) it bears northeast, with a very perceptible dip to the northwest. We have thus traced it to the limits of the metamorphic rocks. To describe its relations to this system, although it forms one of the most in- teresting features in the geology of the region, does not come within the purview of this report. The Sturgeon river was explored by Mr. Hill. For twenty miles no rock was exposed in place, and its banks are bordered with stratified deposi«es of clay, sand, and gravel. On section 8, t^vnship 51, r*ange 34, angular blocks of sandstone are observed, and in the southwest quarter of the sec- tion the white and red variety is exposed in the bed of a small stream. It is extremely friable, and in other respects resembles that which is ex- posed at the White rapids on the Menomonee river, south of the great anticlinal axis between the waters of Michigan and Superior. Near the south boundary of township 51, range 34, the river flows over a rocky bottom composed of sandstone, dipping northwest from 2° to 2^°. The rapids continue for three miles over this rock. The local disturb- ances in this vicinity by reason of the proxiihity of the igneous rocks have been elsewhere described. The sandstone rarely emerges to the surface, but is covered with heavy accumulations of clay. The Sturgeon river at the time of our ascent was at high flood, a condition by no means favora- ble to geological explorations. On Torch river the sandstone is exposed in the bed of the stream for the distance of more than a mile. It consists of yellow or fed grains, with- out any visible cement, enclosing quartzose pebbles and patches of dove- colored clay similar to that which occurs at Bete Gris bay. 116 D6c. No. .69. 11 \l t Afi this san|l|Mlfepojise8SC8 no cconomicol value, it is deemed unaecessar^ t ^rate furtlj( r l(»rnl detRils. Its boundaries are defined, to rlio be^it ei ui 1 mtion, oil (hf urrompanying maps. The su , . , pe f xtenda uuiiiKM ! m ptedly from. Bete Gris hay to Black riv« r, ' a distance (1 12(» miles. On the \v(»st and north it is bounded by the trap- peau ranges, and ou ilie south by {\i jt^ranite and metamorphic rocks. ■ On Keweenaw Point it is about ten miles in width, but between the h" h1 ol'tho bay and Agogebic lulce it expands to twice that width. It forms a longitudi- nal valley, through wliich sweep the Sturgeon, the Ontonagon, and Black riv ""s, in u transverse direction. The general appearance of this valley is ' that i.r'a nearly level plain, covered to a great depth by stratified deposites of reddish-colored clay, in which the streams have excavated deep and narrow ravines. It is thickly wooded, and the soil well adapted to agri- cultural purposes. This sandstone has been examined from F\)nd du Lac to Grand Sable, a distance of more than 300 miles. While the beds, in the main, have been so little changed in the process of consolidation aa to pre'-erv^ on their surfaces the forms of ripple-marks and clay-cracks as perfecilv i^s we behold them at this day on the borders ot the lake, and wlule even the indentations, of the rain-drops which paltered upon that ancient shore are well preserved, we search in vain for any traces of animal or vegetable life which flourished during this epoch.* From their entire absence we are led to infer that, during the deposition of the sandstone, the waters of the sea, either from their high temperature or by reason of their imprei?- nation with noxious gases, or both causes combined, were rendered inca- pable of sustaining vegetable or animal life. We have adduced abundant evidence to show that during this epoch the igneous causes were in a state of intense activity — that numerous lava- currents issued from the volcani: ^^ssures, and flowed among the silts and sediments of the ancient sea. iVlodern volcanoes emit carbonic acid gas, sulphuretted hydrogen and muriatic acid. These products must have Ijeen evolved much more copiously during this epoch, when the exterior surface of the earth communicated with the interior by numerous and far- reaching fissures, at that time unfilled. • Humboldt suppcJses that th# abundance of limestone which charac- * terizes the Silurian epoch resulted from the decreasing heat of the superfi- cial waters, allowing them to absorb carbonic acid from the air, at that s a precipitate on the floor of the ocean. In these precipitates, forming the lower magnesiaii ...^cytone, we detect in the rocks of this region the first traces of organic life. The position of this member of the series, and the entombed remains, we shall now pro- ceed to describe. . , ^ ...;.;, ,,i; i.^.i ■■■.■ > ■- ' 'v.- •; u ■ i; ■',..,. • . ..!■ •Vi »., . '. • '.vhans f rrept tha obscure traces of fucoida dpscribed by Dr. Locke ns occurring at th ■ Tiiv '3 ftoctlu. One or two specimena oflingula have been found in Tequamenen bay; and 01. i-iic •• C,o;\, stccording *o Dr. Owen, where the evidences of volcanic paroxyaras ara less iri5rfcoi.5j . « s-.indstone is hjj'ily fossiliferoua. I: \ Doc. Ho. do. 117 ..f I 1 gas, >\vn: en bay ; sras are ;tilVT<^ir;J 1o TtR COMPACT, '>R LOWf.ll MAGNRSIAN LIMESTONE. )■);■■ i! The sandstone, as w< ascend from the lower strata to the higher, is ^^fouHd to be loss colored Uv the oxides of iron, and to take into its com- position particles of linie, nntil finally it passes into wellcharaoterized, , compact, magncsian li '^stone. I no tipper portions of the sandstone (I effervesce with acids, wiiere a (granular structure only is recognisable by the eye. We apply the term trignesian to this heU to define its litho- logical characters, ulthongh the associated organic remains wonld seem to indicate the presence of several of the lower Silurian groups, which . cannot be recognised by lithological differences. I'he whole of the northern slope of the anticlinal axis bears evident ;.' arks of having been subjected to extensive detuidation; and hence over i J greater portion of this region wo look in vain lor traces of limestone nicMs. If they existed, they have been swept away; and wherever we ' penetrate lliroug!i the thick deposite of clay and sand, we find the rock ; in place to be sandstone. A limited patch of limestone, however, yet • remains west of L'Anse, forming the highest elevation in that direction t till we reach the trap range. It is in township 51 , ranie 35, and occupies ,: a portion of four sections. It was first discovered by Mr. C. C. Doug- . lass, in the summer of 1846, but nothing farther was known until the . township was subdivided in I84S, when its extent and . xact locality were determined. ' ■ < Near the quarter-post, between sections 13 and 14, tow -tship 51, range i 35, the limestone is seen in place, forming a bluff, aboi ' ,50 feet above . a small stream at its base. Here the strata are nearly hor zontal, tli "Ugh large blocks have slidden down the side of the hill, and thus appear to dip towards the east. The hmestone rests upon a wh te sandstoHe, ! which belongs to the upper part of the formation which we have described (' as underlying the whole of this valley. A little to the west of the line, between sections 23 and 24, and ex- tending for a little more than a mile, the limestone is seen in a high cliff which runs south and gradually bends to the eastward, crossing the line, in several ridges, near the southenf limit of these sections, when it dis- . appears beneath the drift materials. Ledges of itock are occa: lonally ex- posed, from 20 to 60 feet in thickness. The height of the blut: above the surrounding country is fully 200 feet; and about 600 feet a -ove Lake . Superior The limestene is distinctly stratified, in layers frot an inch to a foot ^n thickness, which dip, according to measurements ta en along the lower edge of the precipitous portion, from 25''^ to 30*^ and the , . direction of the dip is always to the eastward, varying at d jffere it points -: from N. 60° E. to S. 20° E. It is of a buff color — in some places silicious, with quartzose nodules; but in otliers, highly magnesian, containing about 45 per cent, of carbonate - of magnesia. r 1 From the horizontality of the first described deposite, which occurs about a quarter of a mile to the north, it seems evident that th-- lime- r,i: stone ovrerlies the sandstone, althomgh the position of the incline-l beds of he more southerly portion of the limestone is at first dlffienlt to iv explain, since the surrou»iding country is low and level, and under- laid by sandstone in horizontal beds. It seems evident that at this MS ^I>oc. No. 69. I point the country lias been disturbed and upheaved by igneous action beneath, which has raised the strata, without any appearance of Irappean rocks on the surface. This view of the case is corroborated by the fact that at no great distance from this point an elevation occurs from which the strata of sandstone dip on all sides, and although there is no igneous rock visible, yet it is evident that the sandstone has been raised in a dome-like protuberance by a mass of igneous rock pressing upon it from below. The same cause is also indicated by the irregular variation of the magnetic needle in the vicinity observed by the linear surveyors, which is iniusual except when caused by the proximity of the trappean rocks. The isolated knob of trap called Silver mountain, which has been be- fore descrihed, is an example in point — where, however, the elevating force has not only been sufficient lo raise and shatter the strata of sand- stone, but, at the same time, to protrude a mass of molten igneous matter above the surface. Geological position. — As to the geological position of this limestone, there can be littladoubt that it is superior to the sandstone. Mr. Whitney and Mr. Hill have both explored it with care, and both have arrived at the same conclusion. The sandstone, wherever observed in this re- gion, rests unconformably on the argillaceous schists. It is seen in this position ten miles east of this deposite, and is found in the beds of the streams in this vicinity. On the southern side of the axis, Messrs. Fos- ter and Hill found these two groups occupying the same relative position. Organic remains. — The fossil remains entombed in this deposite are by no means abundant, and are so imperfect, consisting for the most part of casts, that it is impossible to identify species. We have submitted such as were collected by us to Mr. James Hall, the accomplished palae ontologist of the New York survey, and herewith append his report: "I have examined the fossils submitted to me from the limestone west of Keweenaw bay. The specimens, unfortunately, are all in the condi- tion of casts of the interior, and therefore the evidence is less satisfactory than if the shells had been preserved. The evidence from the whole together goes to prove that tlie rocks from which they were obtained be- long to the older Silurian period. • '< This evidence 1 will give in detail, so that you may judge of its value, as well as myself; and you may give what weight you think proper to it in your generalizations. "One of the most conspicuous fossils (No. 1) is a species of maclurea, not unhke the species from the Chazy limestone. All the species of this genus yet known have been found in the rocks of the lower Silurian pe- riod; and although many hundreds of gasteropodous molluscs are known in the higher rocks, there is not one of this genus, nor any form ap- proaching it. 1 feel inclined, therefore, to regard this genus as a lower Silurian type. "No. 2 is a fragment of a spiral gasteropod, either mvrc/iisonia or lox- onema; the surface markings being obliterated, it is not easy to determine to which of these genera it belongs. Its association with maclurea is presumptive evidence that it is a yiurchisQnia, the species of which in this country are restricted to the lowsr Silurian, rockss . "Among the acephalous molluscs, the casts of a species of ambanychia , {No. 3) are very conspicuous. The species are near A. orbkulcUa of the Doc. No. 69. 119 ns action trappean the fact Td which igneous sed in a upon it variation meyors, trappean been be- slevating 3f sand- us matter niestone, Whitney 3 arrived n this re- 3n in this ds of the isrs. Fos- position. posite are most part ubniiited led palaj (ort: one west 10 condi- tisfactory whole ained be- ts value, oper to it naclurea, es of this urian pe- e known form ap- a lower ia or hx- etermine iclurea is ;h in this banychia \ia of the Trenton limestone, but are somewhat more elongated, and in this respect approach A, amygdalina. "A considerable number of specimens are of species belonging to the genus modiolopais, (No. 4,) among which are several bearing a close re- semblance to M. truncatus. Other specimens (No. 6) bear a very close resemblance to edmondia subtruncata and E. auhangtUata of the Trenton limestone, (Pal. N. Y., vol. 1, p. 156, pi. 35, figs. 2 and 3;) but these specimens, which are casts, show a greater affinity to modiotopsis in hav- ing the strong anterior muscular impression so characteristic of that genus. "The specimens No. 6 are casts bearing a very close similarity to ed mondia ventricosa. (Pal. N. Y., vol. 1, p. 155, pi. 35, fig. 1.) These specimens cannot but be regarded as identical or closely allied to the spe- cies cited. "The cast bears no strong anterior muscular impression, but the larainm between the beaks are impressed on both sides by prominent teetli, which furnish sufficient marks to identify the species in this Condition. " No. 7 is another species of the same genus as the last, and is very closely allied, if not identical with a species from the Trenton limostouo of New York. ',■> '■ k- :■ v' ■ •■;^' /• ".!'''; -n- w "The lepifcnoi (No. 8) have the characters of L. sericea, which in its highest range does not extend above the Clinton group of New York, and is more characteristic of the limestone from the base of the Trenton upward to the top of the Hudson river group, or blue limestone of Ohio. "The species oiorthis (No. 9) is too obscure to be identified, but it pre- sents the characters known to me only in the lower Silurian rocks. " The crinoid joints on specimen No. 10 belong to the geims s^lypto- crinus. The species is not more recent than the Hudson river group. " The fragments of ort fioceratitcs are too obscure to form any reliable opin- ions concerning: them. The other fossils belong to bodies unknown to me at the present time." From all of the facts, these fossils may be regarded as belonging to the earlier types of organic life. From the limited scale on which these de- posites are developed, and the imperfect character of the organic remains, it is impossible to fix their precise equivalents in the New York classifica- tion. The sandstones and limestones which we have described may be regarded as the equivalents of the Potsdam and Calciferous sand- stones, the Chazy, Bird's-eye, and Black river limestones, and perhaps of the Trenton and even the Hudson river groups. We have designedly omitted many facts with regard to the palajozoic rocks of this region; but in a subsequent report we purpose to describe their range and extent, and also their fossil contents. In the execution of this task we shall be aided by Mr, James Hall, who has investigated the Silurian rocks more thoroughly perhaps than any other American ge- ologist. ' 'I ;■• • >.t/.l .'- -'-ri 'iMmfrh RESUME. Having thus, in several of the preceding chapters, delineated the bound, aries and described the Ilthological characters and mineral associations of the di^Terent systems of rocks embraced within the copper region, it will -■'■) 3 Y^ ■ir- It'llhl rt*/n;.v-ji . ^ ,f ISO mmmo. 69. not be (leenwd inapfvopriate to advert to the Varying conditional oAlie earth during the period of their formation. We may sup| ose that at one time all of this district formed a part of the bed of the primeval ocean. Adopting the theory of a cooling globe, we may further suppose that the waters were in a heated condition/and di&red essentially in chemical composition from those of the present oceans. The earth's crust was intersected by numerous, powerful fissures^ and the (A)mmunication between the exterior and interior was unob- structed. Volcanic phenomena were much more frequent, and exerted on a grander scale. Each volcanic paroxysm would give rise to power- fill currents and agitations of the water, and their abrading action in de- taching portions of the pre-existing rocks, and depositing them in beds and layers on the floor of the ocean, would operate with greater intensity than at the present time. We can trace the remains of one volcanic fis- sure extending fiom the head of Keweenaw Point, in a southwesterly di- rection, to the western limits of the district; and of another, in a parallel direction, from the head of Neepigon bay to the western limits of Isle Royale. Along •the lines of these fissures existed numerous volcanic Tents, like those observed at this day in Peru, Guatemala, and Java, which were characterized by periods of activity and repose. From these vents were poured forth numerous sheets of trap, which flowed over the sands and clays then in the progress of accumulation. During the throes and convulsions of the mass, portions of rock would become detached, and rounded simply by the effects of attrition, and jets of melted matter be pto- Jected as volcanic bombs through the air or water, which, on cooling, Would assume spheroidal forms; while other portions of the rock,inastate of miniite mechanical division, would be ejected in the form of ashes and sand, which, mingling with the water, would be deposited, as the oscillations subsided, amon^ the sands and pebbles at the bottom of the sea. During the whob of this period of volcanic activity, the sands which now form the base of the Silurian system were in the progress of accumulation, and became mingled with these igneous products. The level of the sea, as evidenced by the ripple-marks, was subject to repeated alterations: some- times it rose so shoal that the marks of the rippling jvaves were impressed on the sands; at others, it sank to unfathomaole depths. In the process of consolidation, the rockfs became traversed by numer- ous fissures, and the water, charged with lime, was forced in like jets of steam, filling them with materials different from the enclosing ma^Ss. In this way the pores in the conglomerate and the vesicles of the amyg- daloid were filled. ■ i Thus alternating bands of igneoup and aqueous rooks were formed,* nntil finally the great crystalline masses of greenstone were protruded through the .fissures, not in a liquid/but in a plastic state, lifting up the bedded trap and conglomirate, and causing them to dip at high angles fix>m the axis of elevation. As the volcanic action diminished in energy, the detrital rocks enclosed fewer igneous products; and, when it ceased 'Consult, pouim, De la Beche, (Survey of Cornwall,) Murchison, (Silurian System,) and Professor Edward Hitchcock, ( — vol. Ampiican Journal of Science,) as to the mod» of formation of the bedded trap. These belts have often been described as dikts, into which the molten matter has bM>n inJMn«*d «Iong the lines of least resistance. If this were the cbse, we ought to find them, ItkQ the dijces of greenstone in the granite, cutting across the formation, for that would be the line of least re- aictanoe, and penetrating the nass in Numerous ramifying reins. We should expect to find the of the a part of g globe, ion, "and present IS urtob- l exerted power- 3n in de- 1 in beds intensity canic fis- sterly di- a parallel ts of Isle volcanic 79., which lese vents the sands liroes and ;hed, and ;er be pto- [ig, Would ofmimlte md sand, scillations . During now form jition, aftd le sea, as is: sonle- [mpressed iy numer- like jets of jng maiSs. Ihe amyg- I formed,* protrudied ig up the jh angles energy, 1 it ceased lystem,) and }f formation jnMnt*d \ of least rc- It to find the .^INm^'No. 69. in altogether, sand and clay, derived from' regions remote ironi the lines of disturbance, were the only materials which, for a time, were deposited on the floor of the ocean. To illustrate the nature of volcanic action, we need only to revert to instances which have happened within the present century.* So recently as 1831, a mass of rock rose up from the sea near the coast of Sicily, where soundings had previously been made to the depth of six hundred feet. This mass, which was subsequently known as Graham's island;, rose gradually from the water, until it attained an elevation of two hun- dred feet above the surface, and a circumference of three miles. It slowly diminished to the circumference of three hundred yards, and in the course of three months sank eleven feet below the water, leaving a dan- gerous reef. The formation of this island was attended with earthquakes and water- spouts, and the effusion of vast quantities of steam and vapor. The sur- rounding water was covered with scoriaD and the bodies of fishes. Prag^- ments of rock were detached by the waves and currents, and deposits! in the bottom of the sea. ■ ' ' • ' - •' :«v <.. ; ' ^ .^■nv^^^ -■ r y - -^ - Now, if its bed were laid bate, it wOuld probably be found ^6 exHibit a section somewhat like the following : 1. A mass of volcanic rock, forming an axis orcpne, crystalline or granu- lar in proportion to the rapidity or slowness with which it parted with its heat, and the degree of pressure to which it had been subjected. 2. Volcanic breccia, consisting of fragments which had become detached and afterwards reunited with the fluid mass. 3. Coarse conglomerate, composed for the most part of pebbles derived from the upheaved mass. '.'I ?^^ 4. Beds of arenaceous and calcareous particles, brought down by the rivers of the adjacent coast, and enveloping the remains of fishes, if not too perishable in their nature, and of snells, inhabiting the surrounding sea.. The conglomerates and trap tuffs would rapidly thin out as we receded firam the volcanic focus, and be replaced by the silts and sediments de- rived from the rivers flowing into the sea. Such, we conceive, was the process by which the rocks embraced in this report were formed. The heated condition of the fluids, as well as the gaseous ^exhalations constantly escaping through the open fissures, would prevent the development of animal and vegetable life. junction between the igneous and aqueous rocks clear and well defined, and no marked charac- teristics between the upper and lower portions of the erupte!) matter. This, however, is far from being tne case. The upper portion of the trap belts is highly Te- sicular, resembling pumice. Frequently we find angular blocks of trap included in this paste, like ice which has been broken into fragments and afterwards reunited. W« find sandstone de- posited in the fissures of the amygdaloid, and angular fragments of the latter included in the sandstone. Between the two rocks there is no well-defined line of junction. The sand and lob- bies appear to have been thrown down while the latter rock was in a viscid state. On the other hand, where the trap is exposed reposing en the sandstone, the line of demarcation is clearly defined, the trap is loss vesicular, and the sandstone more changed. These nppenrances clearly indicate to our minds that the bedded trap flowed like lava-»treams among the sands while in the progress of accumulation, instead of having been injected in the form of dikes after the con- solidation of the strata had been effected. "This incident is cited by Murchison in his Silurian System, and applied in illustration of the formation of the bedded trap. M82 Boo. No. 69. Xt> When thfl ignoons action became donnant, the water, having parted 'with a portion of its heat, would absorb carhonic acid from the atmo- sphere, which, uniting with the lime held in solurion, would be precipi- tated in beds and layers at the bottom of the sea. This Humboldt con- jectures to have been the origin of the vast deposites forming the Silu- rian limestones. As the condition of the water changed, numerous tyjies of animaMife sprang into being, whose remains are so profusely scattered- ^tjlhtoughout the strata of that era. ,.,;.'iri w. ., i:>.u; >/.,,--*■ t^*^ i*;-* .J4>» u ,' -'V - IS, m. V Not*. — Since the foregoing chapter was wriUen we have examined Dana's Geolo^ of the Exploring Expedition, and find that his description of the Tolcanic belts of the Padfic istanda ^jMrespondB in many respects with those of the region under consideration. Thud, Msni, one of tiie Sandwich islands, is composed of compact and celluitu' l't.:alt, and compact clinkstone; but at the northcaatern extremity there is a cliff of conglomerate 3^ or 400 feet hieh In a pass through 'he mountains, Dr. Pickering observed it 3000 feet above the level or the sen, consisting of half rounded fragment:) of volcanic rocks. "On Oahu, the compact basaltic lava alternates at times with conglomerate and tufas. Many of the conglomerated are beds of routided stones and gravel, of the same material as the nnoun- tains. Others are compacted beds of basaltic earth, and have a tufa character. The material in many places consists of true volcanic scoriat and cinders; the former twisted and ropy, and the latter looking like cemented pitchstone, and the whole is so loosely aggregated a3 to crumble in the hands. The alter lation of the solid and conglomerate layers may be seen at many places. The latter are very irregular; graduating frequently into the finer kinds, and forming irre|;ular beds." In describing the geological features of Kawai, another of thia group, he remarks: "The con- glomerates are very various in structure. Some are a coarse tufa; others consist of large rounded oiaFees — many thirty cubic feet in size, lying together, with earth and pebbles fillinsr up the in- terstices. They contain all the rocks of t^e mountains, the most cellular, as well as the most compact. Near the descent into the Harapepe valley, not far from the bottom, there were loasses of scoriae in the conglomerate, looking as if there had been ejections of scorin in the ▼icinity while the island structure was in progress, and before the superincumbent two hundred feet of layers had been formed." Similar conglomerates occur at the Society islands, and the Samoan islands. "At the Fejee islands the coariie conglomerates pass gradually into a basaltic sandstone, consisting of fine gains of a very uniform texture. A still finer variety of compact structure resembles an argil- ceous rock, and might be mistaken for it from hand specimens. « « • ''' "At the Mair ciiflfs the conglomerate differs in hardness; but in most instances bears evidence oftlie action of heat in the firmness with which the fragments are cemented together. They are sometimes found in close cntact with the solid basalt, at first seeming to be imbedded in it. At many localities th« rock will as readily break across the fragments of basalt as along the material which unites them. These rocks are generally stratified; though the stratified structure is oflen more distinctly seen in the distant view than on the spot, in some instances it is minutely dis- tinct. The strata are generally horizontal, but along the shorei it is n it unusual to find a large inclination towards the sea. Some of the higher elevations of Vanui Lebu, (Fejee islands,) •consist of these conglomerates. The little village of Mathuata is over-looked by a frowning ibtuS* 2,000 feet in height. Ui'.fi imiiuiH Vs jjiflu?''; 'i) v.>U iii'^u-yui iilijfjvi V J. A.- ft..., -I, i ^ 1 .1 ■>U'Mi J. 4. >J' ;v'i! fiJ',:':, .r.\: \'i :■-> r •' v.';^}<-,«f;i,iH^*. .o;^jj)iJui^i rn.i ifi'v :^-i yitet juj "iji:!,,- i:Mf»l» ftv.'r.'.'!j flmf ivs -^ "< Vi!l>d'';q<: lai.'.T .tj->:4iu I'l ■:.■;:'; ■•'r.vsiiiii.' J ">('.' ! '-a .t:;':.'.i-e. ■•.- :v- ■.; m ij.-.it '..i> ,1. , »ih-! •■^fvfi' .ff^ ■"s,'f^'itr*if. i .i(4*K iJitti. C . ')»i--',t«»' $% -tprt .i>tW>Mf ^tn % mliatm- g parted tie atmo- I precipi- Mt con- the Silu- 1U8 tyi)es scatte?e* (lofry of the kdfic irianda l,i, Tolt, and e SOO or 400 It above the ifaa. Many a the moun- e material in jpy, and the to crumble in many places, ling irregular a: "The con- arge rounded g up the in- 11 aa the moat I, there were scoria in the two hundred 'At the Pejec listing' of fine ibles an argil- • ^eara evidence They are ed in it. At , the material .cture ia often yninutely dis- o find a large ejee iaiands,) y a frowning XelaBecheandBurr. '' fjfliln '^ 'h v'liK'U.ir; Homboldt, Coimoa, Tolume I. JLlii'Ui. 'Miiuiyjb'" -viT I m \ m I 'A' I'i 4 ill tm .^Ooe^o^69. vancenient of the human race. Withont a knowledge of their applica- tion to the useful arts, the human family would have rennained in ftlie rudest and most simple state of society, dependent on the chase or the 8)X)];itaneous fruits of the earth for the means of subsistence; or certain tribes, under favorable circumstances, might have become nomadic herds- men. This knowledge rests at the foundation of the three great objects of human pursuit — agriculture, commerce, and manufactures. - vrk «ir\'' ■ To show how intimately the metals are connected with the comforts and conveniences ol life, we need only to refer to our daily observation. They afford to man the means of rapid communication between distant points; they avr pissential in the construction of the roof that shelters him, m the preparation of the food that nourishes him, aijd pf Ui^.raiment wherewith he is clothed. ' ^A.u'Wi'vi It will be found, too, that the greatness of a nation is as dependent upon the geological structure of the country as upon any peculiarity of its laws and institutions.^ England owes her preeminence among European na- tions as much to her twineral wealth as to the principles of her free consti- tution. It is probable that she would have been as powerful as we now behold her, had she never been successively invaded by Roman, Dane, and Norman. Long before the Christian era, her shores were visited by the Tyrian fleet, in search of tin to convey to the then emporium of the world. Her mineral wealth has been the main-spring of her prosperitj^; and were this exhausted^ she would sink to a second-rate power. It is this which has built her workshops and factories, and filled them with colossal machinfery ; it is this which has equipped her fleets, and mace her the carrier of the world on the great highway of nations. . Her exhaust- less supply of fossil fuel has made Swansea the^ smelting-house , for the copper of both hemispheres. It is this which moves her 20,000 steam- engines, supplanting the labor of at least five millions of men, and per- forming it with a precision and certainty whifeh human hands could not attain. There are two inventions which have given the moderns infinitely greater facilities in the exploration of mines than were enjoyed by the ancients. These are the inventions of gunpowder and the steam-engine. ;Tbe invention of the former has been ascribed to the Arabian alchy- •mlsts, but M. Reinaud has shown that their claim is without foundation. It was f?rst used fot blasting rocks in the Ramraelsberg mines, in the ' Harz mountains, in the twelfth century. It was first introduced into England, according to Mr. Watson, early in the seventeenth century, by Prince Rupert, who brought over a gang of German miners and eaiployed them in the copper mines of Staffordshire. It was not known in Somerset- shire iwtil 1620, after which it becfame introduced into Cornwall. If has been supposed that it was first used in the districts of Lelant, Zennor, and St. Ives, by two men, named Bell and Case, who came from the East. They kept their operations a profound secret, suffering no one to see them charge the holes; but a man of Zennor concealed himself behind^ ^)olt, and discovered and revealed the mystery. ,., . - The steam-engine has proved as ofiicient an auxiliary in the working of mines as gnnpowder, and without its aid, manyof the mines of Europe, rirty^r profitable, v-'ould be rendered worthless; ■ The advantages of this agent have been graphically described by ]Mr. VVebst it is in veyan( surface pumps weaver . ;The ill Con thus en mated I In Ih exceed i lofty tra for draii The position shafts o inclined n^cessar shaft mi advisabl. the exen engineer the shaft ofdrainii ^Vhere a rid of a fj known „ saving a Slims exr The cl extending of 50 ore tremities the lode. of oblong complishe excavatioi tangular r is carrying n^th the" i'^t. In { steps betv< lioors are S«ch port sufficient!) ^TOrking w the mines Tho asc ni-../-i.,.J : B^^'BHD.HBfll IW appUca- 3d in ttlie se or the )r certain lie herds- at objects comforts servation. in distant Iters him, e. raiment dent upon )f its laws ropean na- free consti- is we now lan, Dane, visited by iam of the prosperity, >wer. It is them with id maae her ;er exhaust- use, for the ,000 steam- , and per- could not IS infinitely ^yed by the sam-engine. abian alchy- [ foundation, lines, in the Muced into [century, by Id employed |in Someroet- ^all. It has iennor, and .„ the East. to see them thind 9. bolt, working of of Europe, libedby Mr. Webster:* " It is on the rivers, and the boatman may repose on his oars; it is in highways, and begms to exert itself along the courses ef land con- veyances; it is at the bottom of mines, a thousand feet below the earth '#> surface; it is in the mill, and in the workshops of the trades; it rows, it pumps, it excavates, it carries, it draws, it lifts, it hammers, it spins, it weaves, it prints." 'jTt»i 'iVfi .)!nv/;»'iO* : jkia-.jucit'r) The first steam-engine employed' in mining in Great Britain was erected ill Cyru wall, between the years 171i) and 1714; now, the steam-power thus employed for these purposes, according to Mr. Watson, may be esli-'' niatiid as amounting to the labor of 1.50,000 horses, or that of 750,000 men. Id the LakeVSuprior copper region the position of the mines is generally exceedingly favorable fiir exploration; they are mostly situatea in the lofty trappean cliffs, which afford great facilities for raising the ore and for draining the water. The usual method resorted to for the purpose of mining a vein, the position, underlie, and bearing of which have been determined, is to sink shafts on the lode where it is nearly vertical, or away from it where it is inclined, so as to intersect it at a given depth. In the latter case, it is necessary to excavate much unprofitable ground in order that the working shaft may be perpendicular. Simultaneously with these operations, it is advisable to commence the construction of an adit-level — a work requiring the exercise of the highest judgment and skill on the part of the mining engineer, not only to select the most advantageous site, but to intersect the shaft at a given point. The adit-level often serves the double purpose of draining the mine and of exploring the country through which it passes. AVhere a lode is profitable, the advetUurers often expend large sums to get vid of a few inches of water. Professor Ansted states that he has often Icno'.vn .^'20,000 or ^30,000 expended in this way for je purpose of saving a single foot of water. We have before adverted to the immense Slims expended at the C9nsolidated mines on these objects. The contents of the lode are attacked by means of horizontal galleries extending between the shafts. These are ordinarily driven at the depth of 50 or 60 feet. Winces or vertical shafts are often started from the ex- tremities of the galleries, for the pur;»oses of ventilation and laying bare the lode. In this way the motallic contents of a veiti are cut into a series of oblong blocks, the removal of which is called siopeing: This is ac- complished in two ways — either from above or below. Iix either case the excfivations are disposed in steps, like a stair. One miner cuts out a rec- tangular mass from 4 to 6 yards in length and 2 yards high. While he is carrying forward this work, another miner commences two yards be- n^Ath the first, and in the same manner excavates the rock beneath his feet. In this manner as many miners operate simultaneously as tfvere are steps between tKe two horizontal galleries. As they advance, wooden lloors are constructed for the purpose of sustaining the attle or rubbish. Such portions of the lode only are taken down as are supposed to be sufficiently rich to pay for the extraction of the metal. This method of working will be readily understood from an inspection of the sections of the mhies attached to the descriptions in this chapter. The ascent and descent of the miners is effected by means of ladders against the shaft, interrupted at every ten fathoms by floors. In- c,f.<,.J * Address before the Boston Lyceum. mm Bbt.m.m s ventieai forflseending^ aint deseendfrfg' 'fi^r iiuuslifrii^^ Been ptit la rraoticein thedeepmines of the Harz, and other districts where the mines riave been worked to a great depth, by which a great saving ef time is effected. The timbering of the shafts and adits forms in many mines a very considerable item of expense. In Cornwall, the timber mostly employed is Horwegian pine; in' Germany, on the contrary, oak is chiefly used. Such kinds of wood as can be had at the least cost are generally used, though the importance of sound timbering in extenisive mines is very" great, .'ind the condition of this portion of the work forms a considekable item in pstiniating the value of a mine which has been long worked*. The quan- tity of timber in the Cornish mines is so great that it has been estimated that it would require one hundred and forty square mile^ of Norwegian Ibrest to supply it. The quantity of timbering required in the Lake Superior mines ir. com- paratively small, since the walls of the shafts are of firm and unyielding rock; but near the surfece, where the rock is broken and disintegrated, strong: supports are requisite. The annexed sketch (fig, 18) will explain the method of timbering a horizontal excavation througlj which a tram-road is laid for conveying the ores to the surface: yS^Ww^ *^^" Pig. 18. ^ ^^<>**- '■'"'■ 'f^^«''-T>' ^^;-.■l|l,t^f. >rl» v.< In the Lake Superior laud district, the resinous trees af- ford the best material for tim- bering; and the 'tamarack, in strength and durability, will probably bo found superior la all others. The spars should be deprived of their bark, as, by retaining the moisture, it accelerates decomposition. The pumping of the water from the mines, and the raising of the ore, in this district, have been thus far effected principal- ly by horse- whirfts. At the Cliff mine it was the intention of the proprietors to put up steam xnachinery for this purpose during the past winter, which we presume is now in successful operation. This agency will ultimately be employed at all the mines, even where water- po^er can be made available; for, in a region where the climate is so rigorous as on the borders of Lake Superior, and where for months in succession the thermometer does not range above the freezing point, there is too much uncertainty connected with the use of the latter. In the stamping mills, during the intensely cold weather, it becomes necessary to resort to fires to prevent the steam from congfialing on the engine, in long icicles, and the ice from forming on the stamp-heads. In an ex- tensively ofened mine, giving emplr>yment to many hundred people, un- certainties of this kind must be avoided. The work must progress from day to day, the stop<;rs follovviiig fast oil the drivers. — \ " • ' » .' ■T^ Doci No. 69/ ri i«rt I put iu ic mines ^ time is 3 a very mployed iy used, ily used, ery' great, e item in 'hequan- estimated orwegian BS ir. com- myielding tiiegrated, mbering a y eying the efior tana s trees af- al for tim- imarack, in laility, will uperior lo )ars should bark, as, fioisture, it )sition. the water the raising strict, have d principal- At the Cliff machinery is noA^,,i|Di sven where ^ climate is months in oint, there Isr. In the necessary I engine, in I In an ex- .aple, un- bgress from >?)yB lo- The ustml whim oinployed in the mines is exhibited in the nr^mmdcOtz """'^ '" ■' '' .'«• Itt* uii) liunaiji I Ui»,,ui-ri lo i: .!„„ '. ^-^yj /JIM ^ ^~rr^- . aII /a\\\\ ill 'I, ^ ' \\\ \\\ M/b. j>M)ii«u .'wiii >-'i I am A vertical axis supports a drum on which a rope is wound and unwound the rope passing over fixed pulleys, called poppet-heads, and being atlached to the two kibbles or buckets, one of which descends as the other ascends. In raising the heavy masses of copper at tlie Cliff mine, a powerful capstan is used, in connexion with suitable tackle, by which a weight of several tons can be raised, irr urn Having thus briefly noticed the general nature of the exploration, trt will now proceed to describe the principal mines in this district; and to illustrate the method of working, and the progress of the underground operations, we have prepared several sections, talien principally from surveys and measurements of Mr. Hill. "vf'<-."i A* 1- The Cliff mine is situated on Keweenaw Point, about three miles from the lake shore, in the southwest quarter section 36, township 58 north, range* 32 west. A rangi of elevated hills sweeps round in a crescent form, trending' ■ in a southwesterly direction, and forming the western boundary of the valley of Eagle river. In places these hills attain an elevation of 800 feet, and towards the valley present bold mural escapments, while on the side exposed to the lake the slope is gradual. This range is composed of trappean rocks. The summit 4s capped by a hard crystalline gireenstone, as at the Cliff mine, passing into a feldspathic porphyry, as at the Albion. Below, and forming the base of the ridge, is a belt of granular trap, oc- casionally amy gdaloidal. Between the two there is a thin belt of slaty chlorite about twelve feet m thickness. These belts dip to the north atai» angle of 45°, conforming in this respect to the inclination of the detrital rocks which jflank the range on the north. Wherever veins are olTserved in the greenstone, they are tbund to be pinched and barren ; but wher» they enter the compact or granular trap they expand in width, and bo^ I come charged with metal. This trap has a good degree of firmness, and consists of labrador feldspar, and chlorite. It has been remarked that the best rock in this region for productive veins is neither a crystalline green- stone nor a soft porous amygdaloid, but a granular trap, with occasional jamygdules scattered through it, and possessing a good degree of consist- |eacy. Where veins enter the greensioiie, as betbre remarked, they be- come pinched; where they penetrate the soft amygdaloid, they become mattered and lose themselves. . - IM T imi Dot^jNcK-eaocj liliii ii The lode of the Cliff mine is «een to oatnp^ a break or depjeasion '!ll the hill, and thence can be traced to its base. It was discovered in the summer of 1845, and during the succeeding fall a drift was carried into the greenstone about one hundred feet, (see plan, A,) and between that point and the summit several others were opened. When first discovered, the vein could only be seen in the upper belt of greenstone, the metallifer- ous zone beiug concealed by detritus. No one could have inferired from its appearance at that time that the enormous masses of copper existed but a short distance below which subsequent explorations revealed. It was examined by Dr. Jackson and Mr. Whitney conjointly, about the time of its discovery, who reported that the surface indications were not highly fiivorable at the points where the vein was exposed, but that, as it became wider and richer in its downward course, the company should by all means make a thorough examination by uncovering and examining the vein at the base of the cliff. At the summit it appeared hardly more than an inch or two in width: the gangue was mostly pvehnite, with copper associated with silver, incrusted with beautiful capillary crystals of red oxide. Further down the vein was again exposed ; here it had expanded to the width of nearly two feet, the veinstone consisting of a series of reticulations of laumonite. Up to this period the sandstone and conglomerate Vtero supposed by many to afford the best mining-ground, and that to this source they were to look for permanent supplies of the sulphurets of copper. During the winter of 1845-'40, some German miners, \n clearing away the talus near the base of the cliff, discovered a small loose specimen of mass copper. This stimulated them in their researches, which resulted in the discovery of the vein in the belt of ^^ranular trap (A) about twelve feet to the east, showing that it had been vibjected to that amount of heave or dislocation. From thai ooint a level was carried into the hill seventy feet before anything valuable was developed, when the great mass, «o called, was struck— a fortunate circumstance, npt only to the company, but to the whole mining interest on Lake Superior. It gave encourage- ment to those engaged in these pursuits, and induced them to persevere. It also demonstrated the true source from which the loose masses occa- sionally found on the lake shore had been derived. It demolished the fanciful theory advanced by at least one geologist as to the transport of the Ontonagon mass from Isle Royale, and showed that it was not neces- sary to resort to icebergs and changes in the relative level of land and water to account satisfactorily for its position. From that time to the present day, hardly a month has elapsed wi^iout developing new masses; and their occurrence, so far from creating wonder, is regarded as a matter of course. "The largest single mass hitherto exposed weighed about fifty tons. The position of the mass copper in the vein is indicated by the spaces between the dotted lines marked M, while the intervening spaces, marked S, afford stamp work. It will be seen, bv reference to the plan, that the levels 1,2, and 3 have been extended northwardly into the greenstone before described, but in no instance has the vein been found after having pierced that rock. This ajrises probably fiom the lateral dislocation before referred to, the true posi- tion of the vein being twelve feet to the west. As a matter of curiosity ewen, ifc would be desirable to crosscut to determine the extent of this fault, -and tlie character of the vein where it enters the greenstone. It will, sioiL'iti I in the ied into en that ;ov6red, jtallifer- ed from sted but It was time of t highly , became d by all , ning the lOre than a copper Is of red ixpanded series of posed by irce they ing away eciraen of h. resulted kut twelve mount of to the hill reatmass, company, ncourage- persevere. sses occa- lished the ansport of not neces- ■ land and ae 10 the w masses; i matter of about fifty ted by the 3g spaces, md 3 have 3d, but in ck. This I true posi- )f curiosity this fault, It will, Of) Doc. No. 69. 129 without doubt, be found less metalliferous at Uiat point than in the gronu- lar trap which contains the present workings. The deepest shaft in this mine has been sunk 270 feet below the sur- face. The other two are little less in depth. The adit, which drains the mine to the depth of 100 feet below the first gallery, has been extended 760 feet. The amount of stopeing and timbering, and the disposition of the attle, or rubbish, will be seen by inspecting the plan. The force employed in this mine at the present time consists of 160 meu. The mine is under the management of Capt. Jennings, who has 'lisplayed much energy and judgment in developmg it. If any criticism may be allowed, it would bo to the effect that there has been no increase in the force for tl e last eighteen months. The openings in the mine should be in advance of the slope work. By pushing these forward the country is explored, ample space is given to tlie miners to wark, and op. portunities from time to time afforded to increase the force. The machinery employed for raising the ore and freeing the mine from water is admirably contrived; but thu mine is now so thoroughly opened that the company will soon substitute a steam-engine in the place of horse-power. The stamps erected here were the first which operated successfully, and have served as a model for the mines in other parts of the district. The connexion between the different parts of the mine is exhibited in Plate VIII, which is to be regarded as a plan, rather than a landscape. The cliff in the back ground consists of the crystalline greenstone before described. The vein traverses it in a nearly perpendicular direction, pierced by several galleries which extend no great distance, as will be seen by reference to the sdiMion, Plate VII — the vein here proving to be contracted and meagre in metal. The mining ground, represented in Plate VII occurs below the cliff of greenstone in a belt of amygdaloidal trap, and the relations of the two rocks are exhibited in the plan last re- ferred to. The poppet-heads and whims for raising the ore and water are seen at the entrance of the shafts. The building near the centre is use'' for calcining the rock preparatory to stamping it, assorting the ore, ano cutting the mass copper. The building on the extreme right contains the stamps and washing apparatus, which will be described in detail in another chapter. The productiveness of this vein may be inferred from the amount of stopeing which has been done, which is represented by the dark portions in the section, Plate VII. The disposition of the attle is also there represented. From the reports of the trustees rendered in 1849 and 1850 we gather the following information: The amount of capital stock paid in by the stockholders = $110,000. The personal effects of tlie company on the 1st of December,*l848, were $140,982, leaving a surplus of fill, 105 — a sum a httle more than equiv- alent to the entire capital stock. This statement does not include the mine, with its fixtures and improvements, such as the stamping-mill, furnace, &c. ' 9 ««» •«<> -V-W/No. 69. Tiie net products of the mine, and the exj^cnscs of mitiiiig proper, tiom the coniDienceuient, are ffiven below; , i • ,1-1 Producu. j vtiljo BxpenMB. IS46 ''-I'-'ni ,.iii\ ,{i./*u« ^Mjioiij V.' . S8,870 95 i{iq.,i, IfSa.aoa 44 1847 ■o^*ii>oilt.^,iii,'5!ttn'h!i.iri.bfi!; liivi'.TO,977 32 jh f.,f«i ^1,737 86 1848 . . -«;!': ofiJ,j„?iiv.^,,in •,.1. 160,407 02 hftftn 67,6<)7 68 1849 »- • ■ 'V' .-. vr- «-^v.^ >,.;.. 244,237 54 , - 100,968 77 '^ This embraces siich expenses only as were incurred at the minej those of insurance, commissions, freights, &c., are excluded. The cost of transportation to Boston is $15 per ton; to Pittsburg, $7 50. The incidental ejsppnses amount Jo about 20 per CQUt., in addition to tiios^ of 'i'he company nave erected the necessary works at Piltshiirg for smelt- ing and refining the copper, and they estimate that the shipments for the year ending December, 1849, will amount to 600 tons of refined copper. ,,, The product of silver for the year 1849 was ^2,365 30. The following table exhibits the monthly products of the mine for the two yeais ending December 1, and the character of the ore. It will be seen that, while the amount of the barrel and stamp- work has increased. ,. the lunount of mass copper has slishtly diminished. -yioV'*.! oii.'j n^iocij m ,.:',.f-. •/ •.»•,,{) jf> >t^.ij-;i.,^ [ nj<;n: il".-.! .ili ,\[ Tah oAT Ml! i'r.'V i-c r.iii,;--i) K;-v- nft I'lljlr ^,>i:lv. ■■nvvnr^ liW- ih-' y(\ i.-vn tin f'_ 01 jin!7..-((i ••(••:' i;. ■i.;t-.. iJY ■."•!•! . » =: ..• .f't ( * '■•■III. ;:•)•( %■•>. i"-'ii !:;! ioiiitij 'UffK ioj!4/>.. -ti i^ntfi-iniif: !.. '\\n , .>iij vf ]■• i .-t.! ■ ,, l\l .'.•.i'J '. i iit>\ U'thj ijilt iV !.>llr(ff/>i '...-I ;, '...M Mv.-! otU ')■, iiii'V'ii' J f'ilj hiil ^n;nl ^ '>«!/ «i .'ntn fi ftff. -tnyi-'.-'ihtriK' ','!'{' . .Inr. -.fji f« '-> ■.!6i?n^ f)rh 1i; 11091!! nitf. yf.'fo rtiit ptiiri-r^^*,, ,.t ■!.:!!q.,:,j5.. <,, v !(.M,-.- q'.i, j )!-rrri c.iii i^iiiahU;.'j. if(V .'.iu«lltn.-j..,lt yiniv.UO )U JJfilfio 1'.! iiMiiii'-.;, fui (iiv; irjifvv .•^ff!n'*:0-ijy!fii od / 1: m'\- mil tf) ^yH!!}'r.''>ni,uiilT •r:ir(}') n,;ri.v '..(rifi ;^(i}r( ,; av,\r. r; ir'.U*. I • f.-i .,•, j-ui'i-;! • •-; ■'..(jiv/ '.! ,feH<.>,OM* .n ? *&. .#Q0^flua9. list ,2()3 44 ,T37 86 ,6()T 68 ,9()8 77 le mine; I. The iO. The > those of for smelt- ts for the d copper. »ic for the t will be ncreased. hi") t);lT fi-m ♦iq y.f !!'-s-j ill ,qr.M T.; ll'."5?! ('c>U.y Kit .: I'! f^ilS •lii: A . i>ri U) ,:Jtl .rr 1 '11 • '■- ' * ''30 , i-. •,l9f u; (U'i 4 o< i it I 00 00 I I I I H ,'l.T IJll ..:( t, >•; i ai .U i.ii-u 'xb 00 00 00 o it a e 8 us M rj 3 iS so •» I- Cl C5 00 IO *•* ^ *^ 0>t~ — * lO «v A 9> 0> ^ 9lOlA '* « •— ■•r ff" ri 7D V in oT •w'ta o 00 »- — ix 55 '^» 5» a ^ a ^' 00 -IT 00 ' ' ■■>■ i>v <■ e I S3 5 « & s rji!'ji«| 00 5 00 a o — — - >A (~- m m W^ — ■•OS OOJ «»<«"♦»» 05 r-to Oi" gOpW — O00«~ori/Joao ^ a — S B Z 3 V-P 5 o « 5 ^spls 5;5^a'<24^-<(8o» ''"■'/'t .•'■<'«^ f ' i/>'i' ,oix-) l< i lit (»itt •■ ,f.t n .» ,h<\-:') Sjl/vt?'^ ' •« 'i»"'l., r,i},| J,; f*.(.;| 1. -it .;■(«> ■;-• I ', • •■,* i, ••./'>! J" . . V'- i. n V. vli'ti ' V ■■ IJ!'''t .'I! ' ^ ■-y 'li ' -.."j.l'/iy •' -•'■'•"1 (''•' .jn; .*; '. ••• ;•» :,jt I .7 Jjj;.;;: A) , -'ih. .!(■■;. !-• ' ' : ' . i*h1 i^fijrl ■• 7-. 'I .•..;:■.*.' Ixyti . '!' .(I'>!^:vf Rifij ;;: *' -! In -ti'lrpy, f.^'; ' '•""] '?Mi I'i ,,^ fii;.-K| '-■ s(i J'l''' fV'i .'.'X'fin'j '•' i' '"'! •^if -Iff. f ^ ■' ■' ':;"l I') t [„!,; < '^■/'. -.J'M,;. ..7/ '■ ■'.'!' ' •' ; fit.l-T,,,, ^ , ' - • : ' . , j ; i ^ . ^ I, . „ •'• , >' .-,1 '.■:... .'V 182 Dgc. No. 69. II'. -(ii North American mine. — This mine is situated in the NW. quarter of section 2, township 67 N., range 32 W. Its geological position is similar to that of the Cliff mine before described, both being in the same range of cliffs, and occupying adjoining quarter sections. The veins, however, are distinct. From the surface to the point B, in the smaller shaft, the lode dips 23° below the horizon, where it is intersected by a small vein or feeder, beyond which, in its downward course, it dips but one foot in six. The following sketch represents a cross-section above the point B. Here, the lode was found to be of Httle value, contracting to a foot or eighteen inches in width, and affording stamp work of an inferior quality. Below, it in- creases in width, and becomes highly metallifer- ous. At the point C, another feeder comes in, which, like the former, enricfies and expands the lode still further. The walls are very variable. In some places, they contract to a mere fissure; again they expand to seven feet. This expan- sion is observed where the vein C comes into the main lode. Through the entire length of the lower level, it has been found good, containing in some places mass copper. From an examina- tion at the depth of ninety-five feet, it is inferred that the veinstone is 3 or 3^ per cent, richer than that taken from the second level. The stamp- work, at present, yields about 7 per cent. This estimate, we are aware, is 3 per cent, lower than the agent rates it. From every bunch of ore containing 30 tons there are taken 4 tons of what is called barrel work, yielding 40 per cent, of copper, and the addition of the masses at 60 per cent, will make the average yield of the contents entire not far from 9J per cent. The gross amount of copper taken from the mine during the past year is not lar from 1,400 tons, which will yield 129^ tons of pure copper. The mine has not been opened sufficiently, except within the last seven months, to admit workmen to advantage. Thirty-five tons of copper have been sent to market during the past season, and the product for the next season may be safely rated at 200 tons. When fairly opened, it will annually yield from 400 to 600 tons of pure copper. The stamps connected with this mine are the best hitherto erected in this region. They are driven by a steam-engine, and with eight stampers are capable of turning out 80 or 90 tons per week. Appended to the section is a view of the vein as it appeared at the point A, in the lower level, 180 feet below the surface. A sneet of native copper, one foot in diameter, was seen to occupy the foot-wall, and to ex- tend from the bottom to the top of the gallery. The other portion of the vein, one foot in thickness, was composed of calc-spar, quartz, chlorite, and epidote, filled Avith small spangles of copper. Its course is N. 58° W. — cutting across the formation. This mine at the present time gives employment to 61 miners and 24 surface-men. The monthly pay of the former amounts in each case to |24; of the latter, $20. These workings have been prosecuted under many disadvantages and discouragements; but through the emrgy of ?ur. John Bacon, the agent, they have been overcome, ;ind the company a.re in the possession of one of the most valuable mines in this region. » are. river, Doc. No. 69. 188 uarter of s similar range of ever, are the lode 11 vein or ot in six. Here, the -acting to affording )w, it in- netallifer- :omes in, pands the variable, e fissure; is expan- omes into ; has been examina- instone is 'he stamp- are aware, nch of ore irrel work, i at 60 per t far from past year pper. ast seven of copper uct for the opened, it erected in It stampers ired at the 3t of native and to ex- lion of the z, chlorite, is N. 58° lers and 24 ach case to intages and the agcui) sion of one Minnesota mine. — This mine is situated about two miles east of the Ontonagon river, and fifteen miles from its mouth, (NW. quarter section 15, township 50 N., range 39 VV.) The trap ranges here run in a NB. , and SW. direction, and attain an elevation of about 700 feet above the lake. Like the range of Keweenaw Point, they are flanked by sandstone and conglomerate, dipping northerly, besides containing intercalated beds of these detrital rocks. The section of the adit appended to the plan of this mine shows the relation of one of these sedimentary beds to the igneous formation. This vein belongs to a system totally distinct from that of Keweenaw Point. While the latter system crosses the formation at nearly right an- gles, the former has a course and inclination nearly conformable to (hose of the accompanying sedimentary rocks. The inclination of this vein is north 52°, which is parallel with the sandstone seen at the base of the hill. ( Vide section of the adit ^^e^ore referred to.) The veinstone consists of epidote, chlorite, quartz, and calc- spar, distinct in character from tlie wall-rock. The walls of the vein are, for the most part, well defined, exhibiting the grooved and polished appearance, termed by the Germans slickenniffes. Throughout the gangue, . copper exists in masses, bunches, and spangles. Silver occurs in places in connexion with calc-spar and chlorite, one sj)eciinen of which weighed eight ounces. In the spring of 1849, wet3xaniined this mine before any stopeing had been done. The drift had been extended between the two shafts, 156 feet apart. At the point of intersection between shaft No. 1 and the drift, a mass of nearly pure copper five feet in thickness was ex- posed, occupying the hanging-wall. A few feet east, it was observed to change its position and occupy the foot- wall. The sheet copper appeared to be nearly continuous between the two shafts. The width of the veia at the point where the level intersects the shaft No. 1 was found to be eight feet, but at shaft No. 2 contracted to three feet. This increased width is due to a feeder or branch whicli intersects the main lode and becomes merged with it, where shaft No. 1 is sunk. To the west of this point, a drift has since been extended eighteen feet in length and thirty-eight feet below tlie surface. Here, the vein expands to eight feet, and is almost entirely filled in with sheets of native copper. Shoots branch off from the main mass, occupying the fissures, so as to interpose a brazen barrier to further driving in that direction. These masses can only be reached by stopeing from the adit-level upward until they are intersected, and then driving along their sides. By means, of powerful sand-blasts placed between the sheets and the hanging-wall, they can be thrown down; after which, a great amount of labor remains to be performed, in catting them into blocks, so that they may be removed to the surface, where they must undera;o still another subdivision into blocks of one or two tons weight, that they may be transported to the river. The sheets between shafts Nos. 1 and 2, where the vein was stoped, yielded no masses of any great thickness. At shaft No. 2, 42 feet below the surface, a mass of copper was struck, and the sinking contin- ued beside it to the depth of 55 feet, which was found extending into the level westerly. Portions of this mass were taken down, while otlier por- tions remain on the hanging-wall. These points are indicated by the letters M, M. Here, the vein is five feet in width, composed not en- tirely of materials distinct from the wall-rock, but of intercalated portions 134 Dde. No. 69. Fis. 521. ^ ^'"uP; TVT / Y^ character of the vein between shafts Nos. 1 and 2. In shaft No. 3, 180 feet west, the vein is 28 inches in thickness, including the rocky portion, and presents the following section: 1 . Quartz and chlorite, with copper in strings and bunchps. 2, 3. Beds of rock, similar to the wall-rock, with thin sheets of copper filling the seams, in sufficient abundance to pay for working this portion of the vein. 4. Quartz, chlorite, calc-spar,and epidote, contain- ing a large per centage of copper, in masses, bunches, and disseminated. In certain portions of the lode, these beds of rock ['disappear, the whole matrix being filled with materials distinct from the walls. According to the statement of Mr. Knapp, the agent of this mine, whose energy and zeal in exploring this tract we have noticed under another head, there were taken from this mine, last year, (1848,) eleven tons of copper, seven and a half of which were included in the mass raised by the ancient miners, the position of which is indicated in the plan. (See shaft No. 1.) This was sent to market before the company had fairly commenced ope- rations. During the past season*, there have been taken ftom the mine 57 tons of copper, in masses, estimated at 75 per cent., and 700 tons of stamp- work, estimated at 6 per cent., making in the aggregate 84f tons of pure copper — the mass of the veinstone yielding nearly 11| per cent. 'I'here are now exposed, in the shafts and levels, about 30 tons hi masses, besides a considerable quantity of stamp work. A year has not elapsed since this mine was opened, and none of the shafts have been extended U'> a greater depth than 67 feet. No mine in the country has produced so great an amount of copper^ with the same -amount of labor and capital expended. We cannot find its parallel in the whole histoiy of copper-mining, wherever prosecuted. Plan of the mine. — An adit-level is now being driven from the base of the hill to intersect the vein, at nearly right angles with its course, at shaft No. 3. Its length, when completed, will be 375 feet. Thence, it will be extended -^^long the course of the vein so as to strike the several shafts. Shaft No. 1 will be intersected 77 fe6t below the surface; shaft No. 2, at 87 feet; and shaft No. 3, at 86 feet. The shaded portions represent the pre- sfent workings, while the light portions show what remains to be accom- plished. The ancient workings are indicated by a series of oblique lines. The Minnesota vein can be traced along the surface for the distance of a mile or more, and in this respect it admits of the employment of a gVeater number of miners than any vein yet discovered in the copper re- gion. The containing rock is a dark«gray, mottled trap, of a granular texture, with occasional almond shaped cavities through it. It breaks into rhomboidal blocks, and readily yields under the drill. Its constituents are hornblende, feldspar, and chlorite. The section of the adit protracted 300 yards north cuts no less than six veins, some of which conform in dip to the vein now wrought, while others intersect the rocky planes perpendicularly. 'The company now employ 84 men, about one half of whom are as- sfgned to the mine, while the other half are employed in erecting the Doc. No. 69. m necessary buildings. These will consist of a wliim-house, a house for calcining and assorting the ore, a .stamping and washing-mill, with a saw-mill attached. They iiave already erected five dwelling houses, two smitheries, two barns and other out-buildings, and a commodious warehouse, on the right bank of the Ontonagon. They have constructed an excellent road to the river, 2J miles distant, and cleared and culti- vated about 4o acres of land. They raised during the past year .'500 bushels of potatoes, 300 bushels of turnips, and other vegetables. This work seems almost iiioiodible, when it is considered that, a year ago, there was hardly a tree felled on the location, hardly a cubic foot of rock •excavated from the vein. Northwest mine. — This mine is situated on Keweenaw Point, (section 15, township 58 N., range 30 W.,) in the same belt of trap in which are contained the Clifl' and North American mines. It occurs on the southern slope of the northern trap range, and overlooks the valley of the Little Montreal river. Conglom- erate. ^r::r.. 1 M\t. 12 Ga 90 72 The above sketch will convey an idea of the nature and extent of the workings. The rock is a dark gray compact trap, occasionally amygda- loidal. To the north of shaft No. 4, occurs a belt of conglomerate about 12 feet in thickness, with a northerly inclinatio;i of 40°, reposing on a brecciated trap. Within a space of 300 yards are three distinct and .well- defined veins, whose bearing and underlie are as follows: | East vein, bearing north 16^*^ east, underlie 8° east. , | Middle vein, " " 19° west, " 8° west. " 12° west. West vein, '^ " 17^ west, It is not improbablr; tliat all may ultimately be found to converge and form a single lode of great power. The main workings have been prose- cuted on the eastern vein. An adit-level has been driven 500 leet; when extended 136 feet farther, it will intersect shaft No. 4, at the depth of 73 feet. Another gallery has been opened, 60 feet below, and a portion of the lode removed, the stopeing beiitg represented by the shaded lines. The vein, along the course of the adit, is well denned, and varies in width from a ict^fr inches to two feet. In the northern part, where the present workings are prosecuted, it expands to 2\ feet, and is highly charged with copper. At the northern extremity of the second level, the vein is 31 inches in width. At the bottom of shaft No, 3, 90 feet from the surface, the vein is bbservcd to have a greater expansion than at any intermediate point. 136 Doc. No. 69J IJ, t * r* I ]' i i^ . f ' i Its impregnation appears to have taken place at two different periods . The western seam is composed of chlorite and calc spar, with but little quartz; the copper occuring disseminated and in thin plates. The eastern seam is composed of quartz and calc-spar, with but little clilorite — the copper occurring in masses, bunches, and strings. Where the fissure was observed to be subsident, tha walls came almost in contact. Where, on the other hand, the fissure was nearly perpen- dicular, the vein had the widest expansion. Two shafts have been sunk on the west vein, each to the depth of 50 feet. From one of these a level has been extended 80 feet, and a portion of the lode removed, and masses weighing a ton and upwards have been taken down. Tiiis. vein promises to be of great value. The product of this mine, according to the best information, up to the present time, has been 50 tons of mass copper, yielding 50 per cent., and, 500 tons of S per cent, stamp-work. The present force employed consists of 53 miners and 42 surfacemen. Copper Falls'' mine. — The old mine is bituated on the northern slope of the trap range, about two. milo.s from the lake shore. Within that space there are four alternations of trap and conglomerate. The belt in which the lode is situated is only a hundred and fifty feet in thickness, and dips northerly at an angle of 33°. A belt of conglomerate reposes upon it,, forming the northern slope of the hill; while a belt of metamorphosed sandstone, fifty feet or more in thickness, occurs below. The annexed sketch illustrates the relative position of the igneous and aqueous rocks. B Fig. 23. C E ;__, r^.-r-ff^^^ fdr:L.r'.P'^^^'^i^'n:h So long as the workings were confined to the belt of trap, the vein was productive — yielding stamp-work and masses, the largest of which Aveighed 12 tons. On striking the sandstone, however, it was observed to change in its mineral contents and richness. The shaft E, has been ex- tended through the sandstone into the belt of trap below, and the fissure- appeared to be continuous through the different ibruiations; but at the depth of 6 feet in the sandstone, ih&vein had contracted to four inches.. Shortly aftor the intersection it was observed to branch — one branch dip- ping rapidly to the west, and the other to the east. The shaft was con- tinued perpendicularly through the sandstone, thus losing sight of both branches. On reaching (he lower belt of trap, a drift was extended to the right and left, to the distance of 18 feet, without intersecting either branch: In this stao^e the workings were susf^nded. It is desu'able to hrtve these workings continued still further, as they will solve one of Siind- Btone. ssure at the iches .. 1 dip- con- bolli led to either jirable one pf Ddc. No. 69. ni the most interesting problems in the mineral region— t. e., the changes Avhich veins undergo in their passage through difi'erent mineral planes. The company are now developing a vein between sections 11 and 12, Icnown as the Childs vein. Its geological position is the same in refer- ence to the sandstone as the one before described. It bears east of south, and dips westerly. A few feet to the west, another vein can be traced along the surface, in which may be seen pits which were sunk by the ancient miners. An adit has been commenced, which will be extended 256 feet, when it will intersect the shaft on the Childs vein at the depth of 64 feet, and in its progress develop the other vein. The belt of trap is much wider at tbis point than at the abandoned mine. In sinking the shaft, some masses of copper were found weigliing from thirty to fifty pounds; but the disseminated coppeT was incon- siderable. Near the centre of section 12 is another vein, on which a shaft has been sunk to the depth of thirty-seven feet, without having developed much copper. The vein is about a foot in width, the gangue of which consists of calcareous spar, with traces of chlorite. The shaft is in the upper portion of the trap belt which underlies the sandstone at the old works, and takes into its composition a largo ju'oportion of chlorite. Thirty rods to the south-southwest is another vein of much greater promise. The course is nearly north and south, and the matrix consists of prehnite, higbly charged with particles of copper. The total product of this mine up to. the present time is as follows: Copper masses and barrel-work, averaging 70 per cent. - W, 959 lbs. Stamp- work, averaging 10 per cent. - - - 497,500 *< Total 588,459 '« T/ie Northwestern mine is situated in the same trap belt a» the North- west — the same stratum of conglomerate showing itself near the brow of the hill. It is in section 21, townsbip58 north, range 58 west. The vein crosses the formation, bearing northerly. Two trial shafts have been sunk to the depth of twenty four and thirty-six feet respectively, which yielded copper, in Riasses and disseminated, in considerable abundance. The in- dications are that this is a vein of much power, and the company in possession ought to test it thoroughly. Phoinix, formerly Lake Superior, mine occurs in the bed of Eagle river, about a niilo above its embouchure. This tract was among the first located in thit> 'egion, and this company* among the first to embark in mining adventure^. In the early days oi copper-mining, this lode was represented as possessing unparalleled richness — the silver far exceeding the copper in value; and tliese representations contributed powerfully toAvards the creation and maintenance of the copper mania Avhich prevailed for a time throughout the eastern cities. The most extravagant ex- pectations were formed, and the most exaggerated statements* made, as to the mineral wealth of the country. Many were doomed to a speedy and bitter disappointment; but the ultimate effects have been to divert capital into a new and untried channel, and develop the mineral wealth of a * Ths first report of ihe trustees contains a statement of the result of an assay as follows : In a ton of rock Silver, 153.56 pounds, valued at Coi)per, 903.57 pounds, valued at $3,053 20 83 57 tS,136 77 1^ Doc. No. 69. I: il jpresentation - > remain region which, but forthes long time unexplored. This vein, as before remarked, is situated about a mile from the lake shore; and between these two points there are no less than seventeen alternations of trap and conglomerate. From the fact that veins exhibit great disturbance and great variableness in their metallic contents in thoir passage through different belts of rock, it is evident that the best mining-grcand lies south of these alternations. In that direction, how- ever, it is circumscribed by a belt of hard, crystalline greenstone, in which the veins are seldom well developed. The lode is seen in the bed of the stream about a thousand feet above the main shaft, where it is distinctly marked. The matrix consists of calc-spar, prehnite, and radiated quartz, containing native copper in strings and disseminated. It is iiom one to two feet in width, and bears north 17° east; with a slight dip to the east. Thence it is to be traced down the stream, occasionally concealed by loose rocks and gravel. In the winter of 1844, a trial shaft was commenced at this point;, on the left bank of tlie stream. This, however, had been prosecuted only to the depth of twenty leet, when it was, under the direction of the mining engineer, abandoned, and another shaft commenced further down the stream. Here there a\ as no appearance of a vein; no gangue distinct from the wall-rock; no powerful fissure to indicate the dislocation of the mab-s; no polished surfaces on the face of the cliff. The true position of the vein was several feet to the eu^t, in the bed of the stream; but it was not apparent, from the accumulation of water-worn materials. The shaft was sunk through a dark brown amygdaloid, with little adhesion between the particles — the amygdules being filled in places with native copper, exhibiting occasional points of silver. This peculiarity could be traced for a distance of eleven feet from the stream, becoming less apparent as it receded from the bank. On the immediate bank, however, the rock was less amygdaloidal, and took in a larger proportion of chlorUe. The change in the location^of the shaft was injudicious in two respects: 1. The old shaft was on the vein, and, had it been prosecuted, would have proved it, while the new shaft was not on the vein, but to the west of it. 2. It was located so near the river bank, that the water percolating through the fissures proved a con- stant source of annoyance, in the progress of the work. In his report to the company, the mining cngineerropresents the vein as eleven feet in width — a vein of greater power than any three thus far discovered in this region — eighteen hundred feet in length, as far as known, and containing an amount of ore, already exposed, which could not bo exhausted within the present generation.* Its richness was unparalleled. As the shall was continued downward, the indications of copper became less apparent, until finally they disappeared altogether, and nothing was brought up but barren rock. Al tlie depth of 60 feet, if we mistake not, the miners came to a pocket in the rock filled with gravel and water- worn accumulations. They then drifted • We quote from the report: "The whole known length of the vein isuboui eighteen hundred feet. Its width is salisfactorily proved lo be tlevtnfiet for the distmue of two hundrtdftel; and it ia probable that il will hold a workable widtli ihroughoul the eighteen hundred fett. ll is obvious that thr.reis an adequate If the ore runs oat at a considerable depth, Hay two hundred feet, it will "be n matter of little imporiuiice to tht jtrtsent generation, Ihovgk it mi^M h* lo pvtttrity." Doc. No. 69. 139 i for a e lake enteen exhibit snts ill he best I, how- ne, in t above isists of I strings rs north \ down In the eft bank depth of ngineer, II. Here all-rock; polished s several from the lirough a ;les— the ;casional if eleven [he bank, idal, and lon^f the [the vein , lew sbalt near the Id a con- le \ein as thus far |is known, lid not be paralleled. W became [hing was tketinthe [en diifted leen hundred !«/; and it ia (it ia obvious kfitable, and J on« hundred lie depih, «»>• jli it migbl under the bed of the stream inpursuitof the vein, but were unsuccessful. In removing the water-worn materials, they found numerous boulders of copper, varying in weight from half an ounce to COO pounds — so numer- ous, indeed, that portions of the gravel were profitably washed for the metallic contents. In this connexion was also found a mass of native silver weighing eight pounds — the largest yet discovered in this region. The main shaft was carried to the depth of 75 feet, whes the workings were suspended; nor have they since been resumed. That there is a vein of great richness oti that location, and in the vi. cinity of the present workings, is evidenced by the numerous water worn masses of copper found in the bed of the stream. They have not come from far. As the matrix of the vein is more yielding than the associated rocks, it frequently proscribes the direction of a stream and forms its bed. That will probably be found the case here. The pocket before de- scribed was excavai. 1 by the agency of the stream in the gangue of the vein. The west vein on this location, known as Sheffield cb- ably left the main vein in the prosecution of the work, its value cat rot be determined at this depth without a cross-cut. No place on Lake Superior affords greater facilities for mining; and the efforts of the company deserve to be crowned with success. Quincy tnine is situated near Portage lake, on section 26, township 65, range 34. The surface of the country rises somewhat abruptly from tho water, not in Lroken cliffs, but rounded hills. The elevation of this "I S ' 'm 140 Doc. No. 69. mine is, by estimation. 400 feet. The rock is a dark-brown trap, com- posed of hornblende, feldspar, and chlorite. The vein bears north 43^^ cast, and dips rapidly to the north, corresponding with the course of the formation— tha on^y instance of the kind observed on Keweenaw Point. A string or branch was observed in a ravine near by, bearing north 45° west, which jielded native copper in sheets cf considerable size. This mine, at the time of our visit, had not been sufficiently developed to en- al e us to form an opinion as to its value. Forsyth mine occurs in the southeast quarter of section 33, township 57; range 32. The vein, which bears north 9^° west, is distinctly' seen cutting a hill, which rises a hundred feet above the surrounding plain. Two years ago, a shaft was sunk to the depth of 70 feet, and two others to- an inconsidorable depth, since which time the work has been abandoned. As the waier had filled these excavations, it was impossible for us to ex^ amine the vein critically. From the veinstone brought to-day, copper in sheets and disseminated was found in considerable abundance. Native silver was also found in this association to an extent thus far unobserved in any other mine on Lake Superior. The external indications here are favorable; but we are not advised whether the company purpose resuming operations. Albion mine is situated in the same bluffs as the Cliff and North Ameri- can, on section 11, township 57, range 32. The cliff, which attains an elevation of nearly 800 feet above the lake, is composed of a hard crystalline greenstone, passing into a porphyry, where the crystals of feldspar are imbedded in a matrix of hornblende. On the western slope, a thin but well-marked vein, filled with arsenical, pyritous copper, is ob- served occupying a depression in the soil for a distance of 80 rods, Mr. Stevens, the agent of the company, informs us that at either end it branches into numerous strings and becomes lost. On the southeast side of the bluff, a shaft has been sunk to the depth of one hundred feet, striking the amygdaloid at the depth of 97 feet, from the bottom of which a drift was extended into the hill along the course of the vein. The workings have not been prosecuted sufficiently to determine its value. This vein bears north 46° west. Its matrix consists of calc-spar and chlorite, with thin scales of native copper, and is about 18 inches in width. Forest mine. — This mine is situated on the northeast quarter of section 36, township 50, range 40, within the limits of what is known as the " Cushman location," on the left bank of the Ontonagon river. The old workings, under the dird'ction of Cushman, on the north half of sec- tion 36, do not appear to have developed veins of much value. They have been described in a preceding part of this report. <'The Dutch vein," on the northeast quarter of section 31, has been explored to the depth of about fifty feet. Its course is northr 70° east, ranging with the formation; its inclination, 40° below the horizon. The veinstone is composed of epidote and quartz, twelve feet in thickness, with thin plates of copper disseminated through the mass, affording indi- cations of considerable promise. In the chapter on ancient mining we have described with some minute- ness the pits and excavations found on the southwest quarter of section com- h 43= tif the Point, tli 45° This to en- vnship ^r seen plain, ihers ta doned. \ to exi ipper in Native bserved [lere are isuming 1 Aineri- lains an a hard ystals of rn slope, r, is ob- is. Mr. r end it le depth 97 feet,. long the fficiently matrix iper, and )f section In as the ir. The If ol sec- They [has been bo*' east, In. The Ihicknesa, ling indi- minute- )f section Doc. No. 69. 141 30, and on section 31. Fig. 24. The following sketch may be regarded as an , approximaiive representation of the contour of the cliff, and of the position of the veins on the latter tract. The -._,,„ inclination of the main lode is 78°. The ancient miners had excavated to the depth of 19 feet, and this has been continued by the adventurers to the depth of 23 feet. The two veins to the south, from their inclination, prob- ably intersect the main one at points below the 23-foot excavation. Should the inclination be found to continue cutting the strata or bands in the same plane, it will present the same phenomena as the main veins in Cornwall. A section of the vein, as it appears in the shaft, is appended. The wall-rocks are composed of amygdaloid and granular trap, with a,largo ' admixture of chlorite. The vein, which is about three feet in width, is composed of the following materials, and arranged in this order: 1. A seam of laumonite an inch in width. 2. Calc-spar, quartz, chlorite, and epidote,with copper in bunches and disseminated. 3. Carbonate of copper, probably the result of atmos- pheric changes. 4. Epidote, chlorite, and amygdaloidal trap. 5. Masses of copper associated with spar, quartz, and |l'" epidote. To the east of this shaft another has been commenced, at the bottom of one of the ancient excavations. At this point the vein exhib- its very much the same appearance, having the same inclination, and-yield- ingcopperin considerable abundance. Few veins in the mineral region have been opened which, on the surface, afforded indications of gneater promise. Ohio Trap Rock mine. — The workings at this point have been described with some minuteness in a preceding part of this report, and it would be superfluous to repeat the information there given. Adventure mine — southwest quarter of section 36, and southeast quarter of section 35, township 51, range 38, in the Algonquin mountains. A cliff rises to the height of more than 150 feet above the surrounding country, and to the south presents a bold mural escarpment, while to the north it slopes gradually towards the lake. The rock is a hard, crystalline greenstone, somewhat porphyritic, traversed by occasional strings or seams, filled in with calc-spar and epidote, associated with native cop- per. We saw no well- developed vein — nothing to indicate a permanent supply of metal. A shaft has been sunk on one of these strings to the depth of 20 feet, near the brow of the cliff. The Ridge mine is situated on the southwest quarter of section 35, township 51, range 38, and is in the same axis of upheaval. Workings have been prosecuted only to a limited extent. The ground in the vicinity exhibits numerous pits — the work of a former generation. At one point a vein is ex^x)sed, included within a feldspar and hornblende rock, dipping to the north, which affords copper in strings and disseminated. This vein, like inott of the veins in the region between Portage lake and the Ontonagon rivi r, has a bearing and dip corresponding with tlie adjacent stratiued rocks. 2'ha Aztec Mining Company occupy the northeast quarter of section 36; township 51, range 38, and the northwest quarter of section 31, and 'ri ml Pll 142 Doc. No. I&9. the southwest quarter of section 30, township /jI, range 37. The point where mining operations have been commenced is on tlie northeast quarter of section 31. A veil) is seen near the brow of a i-.litr, bearing west- southwest, and dipping to the north at an angle of 46°. It has not been sulficiently opened to enable one to forni an opinion of its value. T/ie Douglass Hou^fUcn mine is on the northeast quarter of section 15, township T)] , range 37. Two years ago the vein was opened to the depth of 40 feet, when liuther operations were abandoned, but the work has been resumed, imder the direction of Mr. C. C. Douglass, one of the most efficient mining engineers in the region. The vein, which traverses a com- pact chlorite trap, is about three feet in width, running nearly north and south, conforming to the general direction of the ridge at this place, and dipping west 60°. They have diiven a level about 25 fi^et along its course, ancl a considerable quantity of copper has been obfairiod. The vein- stone removed was rich in disseminated and string cop[)er, and will yield from S to Vi per cent, of metal. Quartz, much of whi^h is colored red with the sub-oxide of copper, ibmas (he principal portion of the matrix, which is traversed by numerous seams of chlorite. The vein is well defined, and affords indications of proving highly valuable. The Algonquin viine is on section 30, township 62, range 37. It has been temporarily abandoned for the last two years, and no work worthy of description has been done here. All of the information in our possession will be found under the hpad of "Geology of the trap region." The Pittsbiirs' and Isle Royale Company are developing a vein on the northwest quarter of section 12, township 65, range 36, near Todd's Harbor, Isle Royale. The follbwing diagram will represent the present condition of the work: Fig. 26 B ■■'■> ■\ The vein traverses a hard, crystalline greenstone, bear- ing N. 20° K., with an under- lie of 12° to the east. Shaft No. 1, has been sunk upon it ««^ to the depth of 63 feet. Shaft ' A No. 2, reaches to the depth of 67 feet. Adit No. 1, starts from the water's edge, and The second level connect- intersects the shaft at tJie distance of 42 feet. ing the two shafts is 113 feet in length. Near the surface the vein appears pinched— attaining a width of only a few inches; but at the extremity of the 113 foot adit, and 50 feet below the surface, it expands to a width of 18 inches, and presents the following section: 1. Sheet of native copper, varying from one-half to one and a half inches in width, and nearly continuous, occu- pying the foot-wall. 2. Veinstone of calc-spar, quartz, prehnite, and lau- inonite, with diffused copper. At the entrance of the driflthe sheet copper is observed to occupy the hanging-wall, but it very soon crosses the vein and continues in contact with the foot wall so far as it is explored. Tiiis is the best developed vein we have observed iti the hard rock. At the entrance of Todd's Harhor a belt of amygdaloid of a reddish-browQ Ooc. No. 69. 143 ; point quarter ; vcst- Dt been lion 15, ,e depth as been le most 3 a com- rtU and icc, and 5 course, le vein- all yield ored red J matrix, I is well It has wovtliy of ■ossession in on the tr Todd's le present es a hard, >ne, bear- an nnder- st. Shaft Ilk upon it bet. Shaft le depth of 1, starts edge, and •1 connect- in appears Jremity of a width of Valf to one [ous, occu- and lau- Is observed Trosses the tu so far ss Id rock- At llish-browu color is ohseiTed dipping under the greenstone at an angle of 45^; and if the shafts are protracted lo a sutUciciit depth, ilicy will in.crsert it, when the voiti will probably l)e found to undergo souje modificaliou. ^ The company have sent to market 4,4S.3poundsof copper, which yi(;klod To per cent, of pure copper. Tlie ma.ss of the veinstone, however, will not yield 1.0 per cent. The largest mass of natis'e copper taken from this lode weighod about 700 pounds. The oompany now employ in and about the mine '20 men. who are pressing on the work vigorously, and with very fair prospects of .success. Siskmpii mine adjoins Rock Harbor, Isle Royale, and ocmrs on the southwest quarter of section lo, township 05, range 34. The v^ia boars nearly east ;md west, witii an inclination of 75° to the horlh. Tor forty feet in its downward course it cuts a bell of dark, granular trap, conqxised of horiiblendo, chtdiite, nnd feldspor, after which it intersoc'i.s a belt of columnar trap. While confined to the granular trap, the vein was well uovjlo{)ed,and yielded considerable copper in nuusses and staniiiwork; IhU having entered the colnnniar trap, it contracted to a mere fissure, the \cin- stoue and metallic contents disappearing. The subjoined sketch repre- Fig. 28. '.U'.lill'" >' M----. •■:;i'-i.. sents the workings. Two shafts have been smik through the chlorite trap, intersecting the columnar trap in oiie instance at the depth of 35 feet, and in the other at 40 feet. West from R l^t^JjE^^lFri^>4-(('(:!f' WSIf^fi'i:t^- s^^afl No. 2, 1,800 feet, another \ri^:^f3^. "'-^ shaft has been conmrenred. The veinstone consists of calc-spar, chlorite, and epidt)te, with copper disseminated in small scales and points; also in masses, the largest. of which observed by us weighed 350 pounds. This company hf»ve other tracts on the northern side of isle T?oyale which contain veins, but, as they haA-^e been only partially explored, we will not pause to describe them. Ohio and Isle Royale Company. — The operations of the company are at present confined to testing a vein on the southeast quarter of .section 34, township 60, range 34, about two miles south of Rock Harbor, 'jy the lake shore. Its course is northeast; its inclination, OS*^ to the northwest. Thus, although its course is conformable to the axis of elevation, its incli- nation cuts across the beds of rock. The vein is thirteen inches in width, composed of calc spar, quartz, and epidote, with native copp<:r in thin sheets adhering to the hanging-wall, and disseminated through the gangue. An adit has been started n-ar the water-level to intersect a shaft 25 feet deep, a short distance from the shore. The rock in which it is excavated is a dark-gray, granular trap. The walls are well defined, and the character of the rock is favorable. This belt, it was feared, would not prove sufficiently thick to afford ample room for working the vein. The veinstone contains from 8 to 12 per cent, of copper, which is .■^ufli- ciently rich to pay for mining. 144 Doc. No. 69. tai A small foeder comes into the vein on the loft, about 15 feet (mm the entrance to the adit, at which point it presents tlio following section: Pig. 20. 1. Jiaiimonte, I inch. 2. Kpidotc and quartz, wiih br«cciated wall-rock con- ning copper in bunches and disseminated, 13 inches. 3. Fragments of wallrock, with strings of copper in the fissures, associated with the laumonite and epidote, 4 feet 3 indies. A few rods to the south is seen another Vt?in about eight inches in width. The matrix consists of datholite, heavily charged with native copper. It is in a rock simi- lar in character, to that above described, resting on which is a hard, crys- talline greenstone. The vein, in its upward course, becomes contracted to a mere fissure, containing little cop[>er, where it enters the incumbent greenstone. The following shafts have been sunk by this company, under the di- rection of Mr. Douglass: One on the southeast quarter of section 22, township 66, range 34. At the depth of 20 feet, they intersected the columnar trap, a contmuation of the belt described as occurring at the Siskawit niine. The vein in the Upper belt was three feet wide, but after entering the columnar trap it rapidly contracted, and at the depth of 35 feet exhibited a m^re seam a few lines in width. On section 2, township 65, range 34, a shaft was sunk 40 feet ; at the depth of 10 feet a belt of sandstone was struck, which continued as far as the shaft was prosecuted, fortiflng the foot* wall of the vein. On section 36, in the same township and range, a shaft was sunk to the depth of 90 feet. The formation dips to the southeast, while the vein in- clines to the northwest. On section 10, township 65, range 34, a shaft was sunk to the depth of 4(3 feet on a vein of epidote and datholite two feet in width. ' i These shafts, at the time of our vi-iii, were filled with water, and we were unable to gather exact information as to the character and produc- tiveness of the several veins. ) 1 ■^!^^ • ■I Ar. : . J! 'Ak '* • i I I ,' (. , / •, ■I/'- • . .1 ) •• '■■ : •■' ■■( Mi) .oK .'X*U DM tion : t, ••«.»«"« '^^A "^ • ^^v■ck con- [ inches, er in the pidote, 4 in about datholite, •ock simi- ard, crys- contracted ncumbetu er the di- ige34. At inuation of ein in the inav trap it j^re soam a feet ; at the led as far as sunk to the the vein in- to the depth Iter, and we ind produc- i -^! \-: . J • •',• , ! ' V •j.. I'-.: /. M. .;■'" ! .■•11" ■ ' I '-:..••,( /.r,*! ■"■•'! '.i^ifi,". I .■..,.', M' I !( I i-tV -'"i 1' : ' M ■ JV.-'i. I I r •'■ TABULAR STATEMENT , , ..,/-. ii-lOi-J THE Mk\ES IN THE LAKE SUPERIOR LAND DISTRICT^ I ^. M ■\ 1 '-I (' I I , >h V, ' THE STATE OF MICHrQAS ■■:■ W ■'i... ii • ■ r 10 ' .:-■ i!;' V ■■!• '■ ■.1 ■ vi .• , • i . ,. ) I ! Jc;;.V. 146 Doc. No. 69. Tabular statement of the mines in Name of mine. Cliff mine, (Pitts- burg and Boa- ton Company.) Town'p 58 north, range 32 W., sect. 36, south- weflt quarter. North American. il Town'p 57, range 32, section 2, nortlieast quar- ter. lUinnesota . Northwest Situation. « > Town'p 50, range 39, section 15, northwest quar- ter. Tow n'p 58, range 30, section 15. Feet. 393 415 637 Nature of the rock. A belt of amygda- loidal trap, cap[}ed with hard crystalline greenstone, the vein traversing both di- agonally. It ex- pands, and becomes nighly njetalliferous in the amygdaloid, but barren & pinch- ed in the greenstone. Geological position similar to the Cliff, both being in the. Sams luuysdaloidal belt, but the veins are distinct. NearOatonagon river. Gray amygdaloidal trap, consisting of hornblende, feldsp'r, and chlorite. Rock rather firm and com- pact, the vein run- ning with the forma- tion. This mine is situated on the aouth'm slope of the axis of Ke- weenaw point. The top of the ridge is greenstone, resting on a belt of conglom- erate 12 feet thick, succeeded by amyg- daloid and compact trap, which contain the veins. Phenomena of the lode. The lode is about 15 inches wide on the average, bear- ing north 27° west, with an underlie of 10° to the east. Veinstone drusy quartz, calc-apar, laumonite, preh- nite, and chlorite, with na- tive copper disseminated in spangles, bolts, and sheets. Surfaces often incrusted with green carbonate and red oxide copper. Sheet cupper often fills the entire vem; one of which weighed 50 tons. Silver associated ; moat abundant near the junction of the tsvo belts. Tne lode in the widest past is 7 foet ; the avorage width . 2| feet. Tjie course is north 58° -west ; underlie 10° to the east. The vein- stone consists of calc-spar, laumonite, prehnite, chlo- rite, apophyllite, and drusy quartz, with copper (na- tive) similar to the Cliff, with the exception that the masses are less abundant. The lode is from 8 inches to 8 feet wide; average 3j feet between the walls. Course north 50° east; underlie 38° to the north. Native xi^opper in large masses end in spangles and bolts in a veinstone of calc-spar, chlorite, Uid epidote. Sil- ver not rare. Fragments of the wall-rock aru oflen found included. There are three veins within 300 yards. East vein, north 163° east; average wiilth 14 inches. Middle vein, north 19° west; average width 18 inches. West vein, north 17° west ; aver- age width 12 inches. Un- derlie of cast vein, 8° east; middle vein, 8° west ; west vein, 12° west. Veinstone quartijCalc-sper, ch iorite, & laumonite, investing native copper in masses, spangles, and specks. Native silver in small quantities. | I. II. III. M'o .0/ oo^r Doc. No. 69. M7 4he Lake Superior land district. tins within ! Ivein, north lage wiilth Idale vein, I average ts. West vest; aver- 1 bhes. Un- In, 8°east; Twest ; west 1 Veinstone I chlorite, & Iting native ]), spangles, Bitive silver es. e x: . I. 260 feet II. 240 feet III. 200 feet ■.J ,1 I. 215 feet II. 230 feet I. 57 feet II. 57 feet III. 27 feet East vein — I. 90 feet IF. 60 feet in. 73 feet Middle vein — I. 50 feet II. 42 feet West vein — I. 50 feet II. 25f«et III. 43 feet S -3 s I. II. III. IV. V. 275 feet 361 feet 465 feet 560 feet 578 feet I. 2i20feet II. 225 feet III. 235 feet 1. 150 feet 11. 180 feet s S Effected bv pumps, witli horse-power, working six hours per day. East vein — I. 480 feet II. 190 feet Middle vein — I. 100 feet West vein — I. 340 feet Whim, by horse-power, working four hours per day. Windlass; ad tt intersects the vein 77 feet below sur- face. Whim, work- ed by horse- power 6 hrs. per day. 2,528 tons, at 60 p. c. Con- tents of vein- stone 100,000 toss =14^ p. cent. s 14i 1,700 tons. 57 t. in masses =:60 p. cent., & 700 stamp- work =lli. 50 tons masses =50 p. cent; 500 t. stamp- work =8 per cent. n No. of men. I 09 58 61 12 12 i' •S o 101 6,000 24 6,000 48 42 36 3,00 53 10,000 148 Doc. No. 69. STATEjVIENT-. name or mine. Copper Falls. Town'p 58, range 31, section 11, southeast quar- Ur. Northwestern.... Phoenix, (former- ly Li^e Supe- nor.) Situation. « . as I Town'p 58, range 31, section 24. Nature of the rock. Pett.\ a03 1 A belt of amygdaloid I 150 feet thick, in- cluded between a I band of sandstone below and conglom- erate above. The vein cuts these bands diagonally. The productive portion la limited to the amygdaloid. 593 Town'p 58, range 31, sections 19 and aO. Lftc la Belle . . . . . Town'p 58, range S9, section 33, northeast quar- ter. Geological position similar to the North- west. .1" '/i 337 Comp. trap and amyg- ualoid, surmounted by a thin belt of conglomerate, with a hard greenstone porphyry below. The amygdaloid traversed oy nu- merous strings of prehnite, quartz and laumonite, contain- ing native copper and native silver. 309 Boheoiian. Town'p 58, mnge no oa<.»inn QQ southeast quar- ter. A hard crystalline rock, composed of feldspar & chlorite, with an imperfect chlorite slate at the base, resembling a volcanic ash. 623 This mine is in the finmp niountciln e? Lac la Belle mine. i The rock is similar. Phenomena of the lode. Lode variable in width, but its average may be assumed at 8 inches. Course north 3S° west ; underlie 13° west. Native copper, with con- siderable silver, near the junction of trap and con- glomerate. One mass of copper from this vein weighed. 13 tons. Vein- stone similar to those be- fore described, with the addition of analcime and mesotype. Average width of the lode 1 inches; expands in places to 4 feet. Course north 33^ west; underlie slightly to the west. Native copper in sheets, bunches, andfaia- seminated through vein- stone of calc-spar, chlo- rite, Ac. Most of the workings here have been prosecuted off from the vein, and the bulk of the mass raised was from the west wall-rock. It con- sisted of amygdalohlal trap, the amygdules being filled with native copper. There are indications of a good vein here, bearing, prob- ably, north 17° west; but the workings did not de- velope it. Two sets of veins. One bear- ing north SCi° west, with an underlie to the east of 12P ; variable in width ; av- erage 18 inches ; not been sufficiently explored to de- termine its value. Vein- stone calc-spar, with chlo- rite aud quartz, including gray and yellow sulphuret of copper, with a trace of silver. E. and Yf, vein (> inches wide. Course north 80° east, with an underlie of 35° to the north. Not continuous. Veins a continualiou of those Ugt (lr^c>°>b(5«*aglas8 Hough- ion. Pittsburg and Isle Royale. Siakewit , Ohio and Isle Boyale. Town'p 55, range 34, section 26. Town'p 57, range 33, section 33, southeast quar- ter. Town'p 57, range 32, section 11. Town'p 50, ranp;e 39, section 30, southwest quar- ter. Town'p 49, range 40, section 5, southwest quar- ter. Town'p 58, range 38, section 35, southwestquar- ter. Town'p 51, range 37, section 15, northwest quar- ter. Town'p 65, range 36, section 12, northwest quar- Town'p 66, range 34, section 13, southwestquar- ter. Town'p 66, range 34, section 34, southeast quar- ter. I. Feet. 400 554 672 650 672 478 SO 60? 25 Nature of the rock. The vein ranges with the formation, being betvreen two belts of trap. The upper wall brojvn com- pact trii}>; the lower amygdaloidal. The cap of hill is greenstone, with nnygdaloidal tran at the base. Geological pusition similar to that of the Cliff and North American. Amygdaloidal &gray trap, vein running with the formation. GreeiiStone trap, the vein ranging and dipping witn the formadon. Hard close-grained trap — an unkind rock Compact chlorite trap, the vein conforming to the general direc- tion of the ra'.j,^ in bearing and inclina- tion. Hard greenstone, with conchoidal fracture. rhenomena of the lode. Dark compact trap, with columnar trap 40 feet below sur- face. Dark-gray, granular trap, capped with greenstone. The lode bears north 43° east, and dips 58° to north- west ; average width 8 in. Veinstone calc-spar, chlo- rite, and quartz Native cop- per in sheets and diffused through the veinstone. Lode well defined on surface. Course north 9i° west. Un- derlie 9° to east. Native copper in sheets and dif- fused, with abundant traces of silver. Veinstone calc- spar, chlorite, and enidote. Lode coriposed of cnlorite, calc-spar, &c , with thin scales of native copper ; 18 in. wide. Course ^ . 46° W. Underlie 8° to the east. Lode quKrtz, chlorite, calc- spar, and epidotc, with na- tive copper in bunches and disseminated. Coursenorth 70° east. Dip 70° north. Veinstone epidote, chlorite, quartsi, and calc-spar, with native copper disseminated. Course north 52° east. Dip 39° north. Vein pinched and ill-defined, bearing southwest, and dips north. Native copper in bunches in chlorite, epi- dote, and quartz. The lode beai-s north and south, with an inclination of 60° to the west. Vein- stone quartz and chlorite, with cjpper disseminated and in bunches. Vein pinched, expanding downwards; 18 inches in width in places. Course north 20° east. Dip 78° west. Native copper in sheets and grains, with calc- spar, prehnite, &c. Vein bears e&jt and west. Underlie 15° to the north. Veinstone epidote, chlorite, calc-spar. Native copper in sheets and disseminated. Vein composed of epidote, calc-3par, with native co{> per, bearing northeast. Dip 68° to northwest. Doc. Nor. 69. f f Continued., ,; , j: V'ft:'.'.- •> •' (•■,'|:'l:i'.;;,i I, 67 feet * « .1. iU ; - ';■ 1 I'C •; .' 11'. I. 70 r«ec II. 36 feet III. 10 feet I. 100 feet U. 40 feet III. 38 feet 1. Stfeel II. 13 feet I. 108 feet II. 40 feet I. 34 feet II. 13 feet 1. 63 feet II. 67 feet I. 40 feet II. 35 feet Sofeet 3 o I. 70 feet II. GU feet I 2J0feet i!:,,;!, I. 30 feet 55 feet I. 42 feet II. 113 feet III. 18 feet ".tV."' .. 115 feet I. 46 feet « Windlass . , ;i Windlass , Windlass and adit. Whim. Adit and wind* laes. A'lit. \yindl9Ra.,. Whim. Windlass . e e o 8 oo «D P3 I J "S" >fl 94 IS CO s s ©J o* 0900 ooSS •^ooo «o w s s ;;•= ■«■§ 8-5 •£.2. Cx) •I £• S.S; s U) fi([f[H8 r. 1'' 'lis: tiH'i' :;l i'V/.n :■[ . l' s 04 ssss ooooo OWiO IS; om«-.t- g sS 2»JiP« c'3"H C30S £ pL4 o; :S n Q OS cS S- H E9 U S t :r !•^(, Doc. Hfo, 60. 157 According to the estimates of M. Leplay, secretary of the Commission of Milling Statistics in France, the whole amount of copper produced in the world is equal to 52,400 tons. This, however, does not include portions of the Asiatic continent — with regard to which we have no statis- tical knowledge, but of which the mineral produce is entirely consumed within its own borders. According to the same authority, this amount of copper is consumed in the following manner: .t:\ ■•■■)><■•'* ',- ..'.'.".'.. ■ ."'-..■.. .<.? * Torn. Great Britain - - .».> >•?• , . >• , 10,600 France 9,200 German Customs Union - 5,400 Austrian Empire - 2,000 Russian Empire 2,000 Sweden and Norway 400 Othier States of Europe - - 6,600 America [United States 5,000] 6,100 Asiatic coniinent (India and Oceanica) 8,300 Japan 1,200 ,., Total - H400 ' t-:. .-.■'- !•(,♦-■ ."i:i to8 Dec No. 69. ,1 •; : r' t:l -I 1, (!;hapter v. ; ANCIENT MINING. .1 - r 1.(1'. -Jill 'lIA 'I I :(i I -l III li '*>■ ; , :• I ,-. '. ... t n, 1 .III I ' (. ' ,11, 'j' Emcfence of ancient mining, excavations, implements. — High antiquity to be ascribed to them. — Whether they can be traced to the mound- builders.— Ancient works at the Mirmesota mines. — At the Forest mine. — Nature of the materials found in the pits. — Bones. — Emdejices of tumuli. — Extent of these workings in the Ontonagon region. — On Keweenaw Point. — On Isle Roijale.-May they not be traced to the aborigines 9 That this region was resorted to by a brrbaric race for the purpose of procuring copper, long before it became known to the white man, is evident from numerous memorials scattered throughout its entire extent. "Whetiier these qjicient miners belonged to the race who built the mounds found so abundantly on the Upper Missi nn and its affluents, or were the progenitors of the Indians now inhabiim^ the country, is a matter of conjecture. When all of the facts shall have been collei'tod, the question may he satisfactorily determined. The evidence of the early mining consists in the existence of numerous excavations in the solid rock; of heaps of rubble and earth along the courses of th€ veins; of the remains of copper utensils fashioned into the form of knives and chisels; of stone hammers, some of which are of immense size and weight; of wooden bowls for bailing water from the mines; and numerous levers of wood used in raising the mass copper to the surface. The high antiquity of this rude mining is inferred from the fact that the existing race of Indians have no tradition, by what people or at what period it was done. The places, even, were unknown to the oldest ot the band until pointed out by the white man. It is inferred from the character of the trees growing upon the piles of rubbish — between which and thoso forming the surrounding forest no perceptible difference can be detected— » from the mouldering state of the wooden billets and levers, and from the na- ture of the matefials with which these excavations are filled, consisting of fine clay, en eloping half-decayed leaves, and the bones of the bear, the deer, and the caribou. This filling up resulted, not from the action of temporary streamlets, but from the slow accumulations of years. Traces of tumuli, constructed in the form of mathematical figures, have been observed, but not sufficiently explored to determine absolutely whether they be the work of art, and, if so, for what purposes they were intended. It is well known that copper rings, designed for bracelets, are frequently met with in the western mounds. We have several of these relics in our possession. There is no evidence that the race by whom those structures , were built possessed sufficient knowledge of the metallurgic art to reduce and purify the ores of copper. Admitting that they did, should we not natu- source from which these materials were derived? Are not these copper p } "l\ antiquity ; mound- \e Forest Evidences Ion. — On :«(/ to the Doc. No. 69. 159 jiu'pose of 8 man, is re extent, e mounds s, or were I matter of ^n may be consists in (S of rubble er uten^ils ners, some for bailing raising the ict that the ir at what (lest ot the haracterof and thos^ [etected — im the na- nsisting of bear, the action of rures have [absolutely (they were [frequently llics in our structures to reduce not natu- e, as the lese coppei' tings a strong link in the chain of evidence to connect the ancient mining of this region with the earth-works of the Mississippi valley? We will now proceed to the details of the discoveries thus far made. The most extended excavations are found in the vicinity of the Ontonagon river; and to Mr. Samuel O. Knapp, the intelligent agent of the Minnesota Company, belongs the credit of having first laid before the public an ac- count of tjieir nature and extent. In the winter of 1847-'48, while passing over a portion of the lo- cation now occupied by the Minnesota Mioinf? Company, he observed a continuous depression in the soil, which he rig iitly conjectured was caused by the disentegration of a vein. There was a bed of snow on the ground three feet in depth, but it had been so little disturbed by the wind that it conformed to the inequalities of the surface. Following up these indica- tions along the southern escarpment of the hill, where the company's works are now erected, he came to a longitudinal cavern, into which he crept, after having dispos8es.sed several porcupines which had t^elected it as a place of hybernation. He saw numerous evidences to convince him that this was an artificial excavation, and at a subsequent day, wirh the assistance of two or three men, proceeded to explore it._ In clearing out the rubbish they found numerous stone hammers, sho" ng plair y that they were the mining implements of a rude race. At the bottom of ;he ex- cavation they found a vein with ragged projections ol copper, wh" U the an- cient miners had not detached. This point is east of the present works. The following spring he explored som of the excavr ^i' s to the west, where one of the shafts of the mine is now sunk. Ti e d' pression was twenty-six feet deep, filled with clay and a matted mass of mouldering vegetable matter. When he had penetrated to the depth of eighteen feet, he came to a mass of native copper ten feet long, three feet wide, and nearly two feet thick, and weighing over six tons. On digging around it the mass was found to rest on billets of oak, supported by sleepers of the same material. This wood, specimens of which we have preserved, by its long exposure to moisture, is dark-colored, and has lost all of its con- sistency. A knife-blade may be thrust into it as easily as into a peat- bog. The earth was so packed around the copper as to give it a firm support. The ancient miners had evidently raised it about five feet and then aban- doned the work as too laborious. They had taken off every projecting xiint which was accessible, so that the expo ':'fl surface was smooth. Be- ow this the vein was subsequently found fi'on vith a sheet of copper five eet thick, and of an undetermined extent veiticaliy and longitudinally. The position of the copper block, and the extent of the exploitations along a portion of the lode, may be seen by reference to the plan of the Minnesota mine, on page 133. The vem was wrought in the form of an open trench; and where the copper v/as the most abundant, there the ex- cavations extended the deepest. The trench is generally filled to within a foot of the surface, with the wash from the surrounding surface inter- mingled with leaves nearly decayed. The rubbish taken from the mine is piled up in mounds, which can readily be distinguished from the former contour of the ground. ' /, fWP Doc. No. 69. A few rods to Uie west is another specimen of ancient mining, wlier^ Fig. 30. . .i .'' ', «' ^"•^AyCRrjl they have left a portion of the veinstone standing, in the iovmof a pillar, ill order to support the hanging wall. The rubbish in this excavation has not been cleared away, so that its extent is unknown. These evidences are observed on this location for a distance of two and a half miles. Upon a mound of earth we saw a pine stump, broken fifteen feet from the ground, ten feet in circumference, which must have grown, flourished, and died since the earth in which it had taken root was thrown out. Mr. Knapp counted three hundred and ninety-five annular rings on a hemlock, growing under similar circumstances, whch he felled near one of his shafts. Thus it woulcl appear that these exploitations were made before Columbus started on his voyage of discovery. The amount of ancient hammers found in this vicinity exceeded iew cart-loads, and Mr. K., with little reverence for the past, employed a por- tion of them in walling up a spring. They are made of greenstone or porphyry pebbles, with a groove, single or double, cut around, by which a withe was attached. The following is a sketch of one of the larger class, the dimensions of which were 12x5^x4 inches, and the weight 39J pounds. The smaller class, weighing five or six pounds, were probably wielded in one hand. The annexed sketch will convey an idea of their form. In addition to these relics, a copper gad, with the head jiuch battered, and a copper chisel, with a socket for the reception of a handle, were brought to light. It contained the fragment of a wooden handle, when dis- covered, which crumbled very soon after being exposed. The timber in the excavation before described showed the marks of an axe, the bit of which must*have been about two inches in width. • Mr. Wm. H. Stevens, the agent of the Forest min«, , has discovered other workings on the southwest quarter of section 30, townsliip 50, range 39, almost of equal extent and interest. They occur on the southern slop« Pig. 31. I — t^, r, where i. ( . 1 • .' I ' r, ', •. ,1 'r • r, ■ I Doc. No. 69. I^l jf a pillar, excavation )f two and ken fifteen ive grown, 1 root was ve annular kh he felled sploitations :ceeded ten oyed a por- enstone or , by which the larger ,;4 inches, lUer class, wielded in an idea of Ih the head socket for light. It when dis- ig exposed. [showed the Ibeen about jrest min«, kest quarter ^/ «i Ol equal [thern slop« of a hill, and consist of a series of pits, some of which, on being opened, ate found to be fourteen feet deep. They are arranged in four lines, fol- lowing the courses of four veins or feeders. In cleaning out one of these pits, at the depth often feet the workmen came across a fragment of a wooden bowl, which, from the splintry pieces of rock and gravel imbedded in its rim, must have been employed ia bailing water. Remnants of charcoal were found, not only there, but at numerous places, lying on the surface of the rock. Some have sfupposed that fires were kindled for th^ purpose of melting the copper, but the more reason- able supposition is that heat was employed to destroy the cohesiwi. between the copper and the rock. Before the introduction of gunpowder, fire was the great agent in excavating rock; and even now, in the Harz and at Al- tenberg, two of the old mining districts of Europe, this agent is employed to break down rocks of extreme hardneas. It is quite as economical where fuel abounds as gunpowder in destroying silicious rocks. We can hardly conceive it possible for them to have made such extei . - sive excavations with such implements simply as they have left behiriL ,. without availing themselves of the aid of fire. In one of these pits-— southwest quarter of section 35, township 51, range 38 — were found the bones of a deer, in a pretty good state of preser- vation. Fragments of the cranium, humerus, and of one horn (which, to use the language of sportsmen, was in the "velvet" at the time of the destruction of the animal) were taken out. The smaller bones had mouldered away. They reposed on clay, a foot above tlie surface of the pit, and were covered with accunmlations of clay, leaves, gravel, and sand to the depth of nineteen feet. It would appear that the animal either fell into the pit or ventured in to procure water, and, unable to ex- tricate himself, perished. These pits, filled as they were with water, would not become the dens of carniverous animals, and to no agency of theirs are we to attribute the position of these bones. In the northeast quarter of section 16, township 50, ronge 39, near a small stream, there is a mound which has the appearance ot having been the work of art. Mr. Hill, from whose notes much of the above information has been derived, states that from the want of tools he was unable to penetrate it, to de- termine whether it was stratified or not. it is about ten feet high, in the form of a square, the sides of which are fifteen feet in length, flat on the top, and slope regularly to the base. There is another tumulus on the right bank of the Ontonagon river, six miles above its mouth, forty feet high, and nearly circular, which has been supposed te be artificial, but has not been explored with a view t© determine the point. From the northeast quarter of section 31, township 51, range 37., to section 5, township 49, range 40, a distance of nearly thirty miles, theie is almost a continuous line of ancient pits along the middle range of trap, thoHgh they are not exclusively confined to it. Upon Keweenaw Point they have been found extending from En eastward 2W river eastward to range 28, a distance of twelve miles, along the base ot the trap range. A great number of hammers were discovered on the 162 Doc. No. 69. t present site of the Northwest Company's works, which first Idd the ex- plorers to suspect the existence of a valuable lode of copper. They have also been found at the Coppenr Falls mine^ and at the Phoenix, formerly the Lake Superior, mine. At the latter place a copper knife was discov- ered, in the early explorations of that tract. Mr. C. G. Shaw pointed out to us similar evidences of mining an Isle Royale. They occur on what is known as the Middle Finger, and can be traced lengthwise for the distance of a mile. Mr, Shaw remarks that, on opening one of these pits, which had become filled up with the sur- rounding earth, he found the mine had been worked through the solid rock to the depth of nine feet, the walls being ijerfectly smooth. At the bottom he found a vein of native copper eighteen inches thick, including a sheet of pure copper lying against the foot- wall. The workings appear to have been effected simply by stone hammers and wedges, specimens of which werS found in great abundance at the bottom of the pits. He found no metallic implements oi any description, and is convinced, from the appearance of the wall-rocks, the substances removed, and the multitude of hammers found, that the labor of exca- vating the rock must have been performed only with the instruments above fttimed, with the aid perhaps of fire. From the appearance of the vein and the extent of the workings, he conjectures that an immense amount of labor had been expended. He endeavored to find some evidences of the antiquity of these workings, but could discover nothing very sat- isfactory to his own mind, except that they were made at a remote epoch. The vegetable matter had accumulated and filled up the entire opening to a level with the surrounding surface; and, in a region where it accumu- lates as slowly as it does on the barren and rocky parts of Isle Royale, this filling up would have been the work of centuries. Upon this vege- table accumulation he found trees growing equal in size to any in the vicinity. All will admit that the facts above set forth a'jsign to these excavations a high antiquity; but whether they were made by a race distinct from' the, Indians now inhabiting the region, is.a matterof extreme doubt, although all traditions with regard to their origin have perished. A race like the Indians, dependent principally on hunting and fishing for the means of subsistence, would employ copper, where it was accessi- ble, in the construction of their weapons of capture, in preference to stone, it being more easily fashioned and less destructible. This would naturally be expected in the rudest and most simple state of society. Among the earliest benefits derived from their contact with the whites would be > n introduction of iron implements, which would soon super- .sede those of copper. They then would have no interest in maintaining u communication with the copper region, which abounded in few animals •of the chase, or in preserving among their tribe a knowledge of the places from which the metal was obtained. The lapse of a century or two would obliterate all traditions. We have seen that the first missiona- ries arrived on the borders of Lake Superior as early as 1641, and it is probable that the tribes which they there found had established an inter- course with the whites at Q,uebec and Montreal years before. If, from tllVf V/ I. TAClllfo iir^ (^/%vi.lH «>otr*rtt» itTVini*- rmrv»Aii»%* r^C «^VjiII was displayed by the savages in the art of making metallic implements, and the kind of material used, it would throw much light upon this point. 1 r !■"■ j^.m:m: \< i6d le ex- have Hierly iscov- n Isle ;an be 3 that, le snr- e solid At the lading mmers I at the ription, stances f exca- uments i of the nmense idences ery sat- i epoch, sning to iccumu- I Roy ale, is vege- y in the Skulls form the most distinguishing feature between the several tribes of the human family; and hence their discovery — which may be looked for among these excavations — will aflford authentic testimony of the character of the race by which they were made. NoTB — According to Kalm, (Reise, th. 3, ■. 416,) M. de Verandrier, who in 1746 was sent apon an overland expedition intended to reacli the Pacific, by Chevalier de Beauharnois, then gsvernor^eneral of Canada, in the prairies 900 miles west of Montreal, found enormous maaaea t>f stone, placed in an upright po?itioB by thahand of man, and on one of them was some? thing which was taken to be a Tartar ioBCiiption It was engraved on a small tablet which had been let into a pillar of cut stone, in which position it was found. Some of the Je consolidated mass of detritus^ containing thin veins and nests of mala- chite. It lies in the depressions worn in the surface of the upturned edges of the limestone strata belonging to the upper portion of the Silunuii 166 D(>c. No. 09. rodfs, fkiDong whi. *< are intermixed brotten ridges of &n\fhiho\e m'sk. The maiactiite is un,|ue8tiotiahly a secondary product, resulting frovn a ■cnpiiferous folution, deposited in a stalagmite form. Such is the charac- if'>'i.: >'t the Russian deposites. '(Alba. — The average product imported to England firc.n 1843 to 1847 w«8 6,40() tons of pure copper — the average yield of iIh^, an hmtg r little over 16 ;>er cent. The copper deposites of Santiago am highly prod' '-tive. The ores are not in regular veins, but in beds uid r> ivses, aubcrdin&te to the igneous rocks, especially greenstone and s^>|w;o li;*. The garw'^ues are quartz, d\>lomite. and carbonate of lime. Thn yellow sulnhttrnJ'. "e associated with the hydrated oxidf of iron. Nati\ a ooppji is ni;;{>obsa5 • ei^/a, — 5'hese minea, though worked h\ii& lew yefe.s, me daily rishiiV !i> ivnpnnhnce. Th<; geological associatioiri of the rocks is similar lo (those V'*' Oor > valL iiijls of mica slate comp«jse the Barrossa distnct; m\^l diswriiHi Avy skue, like the kilUts of Cornwall, is seen in the Adaline district. 'i".i ovigh these the granites and sienifcs have protruded. The ores Oi copper uic abundant, consisting of the red oxide and sulphurets. I lom f bedded trap and sand- stone, with occasional layers of limestone, traversed by veins containing ijiitive copper and malachite. ii will thus be seen that the ores of copper are confined to no particular position in the geological colinnn, but range from the lias to the granite. Veins are the principal epositories of most of the valuable metals em- ployed in the arts, and, wnether observed in the Ural or the Harz, in Cornwall or on tho borders of Lake Superior, exhibit certain features in common — showing that their formation is due to the operation of gen- eral laws. They are almost always found associated with the igneous and meta- morpbic rocks; but where they occur in rocks purely denrital, the igneous rocks are generally found not far removed. It is, therefore, to igueous fegency that we are to attribute the formation of fissures and the 'eggre- gatson of their metallic products. Mr. Carne remarks: " By a true vein, I understand the mineral con- tents of a vertical or inclined fissure, nearly straight, and of indefinite length and depth." Werner, the great Saxon geologist, defined veins as " mineral repos'.to- ries, of a flat or tubnlar shape, which traversed *!• ': strata without regard to stratification, having the appearance of ren? f.ssures formed in the rocks, and afterwards filled up with mineral ni , /hich differed more or less from the >■■■■ ks themselves." A true vei» ■. srefore, may be defined - ' sure in the solid crust of the earth, oi -.i^jfinite length and depth 'uioti has been filled more . less perfectly with mineral substances, ii»tM,.)ced by various agencies. from a chamc- tol847 J ? little d'.?-.tivc. crf)in»te carbon* I the ores ut regard led in the Id more or Id crust of more [agencies. Boo. No. 09. 167 inubseqmnt. to the fdtmation of the fissure. They diflfer etsentially from beds, which are gennrally contemporaneous with the formation in which they are enclosed, and range and dip with the associated rocks. This distinction cahnot in all cases be recognised, since mineral deposites some- times present characteristics common to both. Every mining distridt exhibits certain systems of veins, which differ from each other in age, and often in their mineral contents. In Cornwall, three sets have been observed, which have been desig- nated by certain provincial appellations well understood: ist. The system cf right running veins, which traverse the country in a direction nearly ■east iand west. Mr. Henwood found,«*as tlie mean of 3('0 observations, thAt the right-nmning veins containing metalliferous ores bore 4° north ofeast and south of west. Another set, called co7//ra», intersect the main veins at an angle of 45°; and still another set, called cross-cnurses^ intersect the rightmnning veins at nearly right angles. The first system is the most ancient, be- cause it is always traversed by the other two; they are the older tin veins. The next are those which contain tin and copper. The third are the «ast-and-west veins, which are the most recent and the most prod'io.tive of copper.* These veins vary from one to four feet in width. They ordinarily ex- tend a few thousand feet, and some even a mile; the great vein of the United mines has been, however, traced to the distance of eight miles. The direction of the principal veins in Mexico — for instance, the Veta Cfrande &nd VetaMadie — is northwest and southeast, and they are exhibited on a scale of grandeur unknown iii th^mining districts of Kurope. Thus the Veta Madre has been traced continuously on the surface for more than six miles, and expands in places to the enormous width of ninety feet. In the Cerro de Pasco, Peru, noted for its silver ores, one set of veins, according to Tschudi, bears north and south, which is intersected by another set bearing east southeast and west- north west. The Veta tie Cultfuirica has been traced to the distance of nine thousand six hun- dred feet, and it expands to the width of four hundred and twelve feet. This bek)ngs to the first-mentioned class. The Veta de Pariarircm, which belongs to the second class, is known to extend six thousand foat hrmdrcd feet in length, and three hundred and eighty feet in breadth. From these large veins, numerous small ones branch otf in various direc- tions, forming & complete network of silver beneath the surface. A vein of two ov three feet in width can probably be as economically Wrought as one of much greater expansion; the ores are more concen- trated, and the expense of securing the work by timbers is proportionately less. VeijTfH nf Kev}; "naiD Poittt. — On Keweenaw Point, one system of veins if . ; M a^finelite, mesoty]ie, apophyllite, and table spar are occasiona'lv iriftl wvh. but their presence may be regarded as acnidenttd. In no insiuace i.as a purely spar vein been found productive. The same remark \.i!l apply to the quartz veins. In other countries, the miner judges of the character of the lode by the character of the veinstone. Thus, in Cornwall, above the veins whet« rich deposites of copper occur is a mass of ferruginous matter, called by the mi'iers gossan. In th« Harz, a red oxide of iron, known as chapeau de fer, caps the lead and silver ores, and when struck affords tlie miner almost unerring indications of the proximity of rich deptisites. It is deemed unnecessary here to deiscribe the character of the veih- . tones with more minuteness, inasmuch as detailed information will be uund under the appropria <* head in the Table of Mines. The productiveness of a vein is also influenced by the character of the enclosing rock. Where it exists in the greenstone or hani crystalline fock, it is pinched; where it enters the soft porous amygdaloid, it becomes scaft- tered nnd ill defined; and in its passage tliroug*h a belt of conglomerate, it almost always ceases to be metalliferous. The most favorable rock — Uiat in which a vein is best developed — is a granular trap, with occasional amygdules scattered tl. agh it of a lur*!/ color, and possessing a good degree ol firmness. Thi3 kind of rock belongs to the bedded trap. No veins of native copper have been found except in this association. The influence of the enclosing rock upon the productiveness of a vein, and the change in its mineral contents in passing through difierent belts of rock, have been observed in other regions. "Granite, or its modification, elvan," remarks I)e la Beche, in his Survey ot Cornwall , "is fou nd near all the localities Where tin and copper ores so abonnd as tr be worked and produce good mines; while lead, antimony, ma^-ganese, iron, -o A zinc are discovered in sufficient quanti- ties to be profitably raised at a distance from granite or elvan. As far as the two counties of Cornwall and Devon are concerned, the conditions favorable for : n and copper ores seem infavoroble for those of lead. Valuable mines in the granit-^ become worthless when they pass into the slates." *o M. ournet, veins passing from argillaceotis •eir reductive character. Hard granites, as a t' m the soft decomposed kinds, •vliici veins undergo in their passage through different beds of rock in this distiict, a few exatnples will be cited. We have described the range of hills in which the Cliff and North American mines are situated as composed of crystalline greenstone at the summit, and a gratuilar trap, somtiwhat amygdaloidal, at the base. The same remark will apply to the Northwest and Northwestern mines. la In the Harz, according slate into cheny slate los' general thing, are less pt To show tb3 changes pMsage •nil t« minef , rtance in n. The n admix- Prehnite, spat are xidentsd. Vhe sanoe de by the lis whete ed by the , caps the : unerring the veih- in will be Iter of the line focic, smes scaft- >merate, it *ped — is a )f a live!/ of native of a vein, reril belts le, in his nd copper hile lead, nt quantl- As far as conditions of lead, s into the jillaceoils liites, as a through fed. Ind North me at the ise. The lines. In Ubo. No.iD. 171 the greenstone the veiDs ^ contracted and barren, but on entering the granular trap they becon xpended and give evidence at onco of their true character. At the Copper Falls mine, the vein in the northern tfap belt wt..) well defined and productive; but on entering the belt of sand^^tone to the south, it contracted to a mere ftssure. This belt was perforated, but the miners did not succeed in recovering the vein in the southern trap belt. ( Viile section of the works in the chapter on mines.) Mr. Hill traced a vein which appears near the lake shore by Copper Harbor through successive belts of conglomerate and trap, and thus describes the changes: This vein is on sections 25 and 30, township 5^, range 29, and township 68, range 29. It is distinctly marked on the sur- iice through the above-named sections, and can be examined every few yards on the line of bearing. It varies but little in its general course from north to south, and underlies slightly to the oast. Its width in the first belt of sandstone and conglomerate is tws feet, and its gangue consists of '^ ilc-spar, with some native copper. Its width in the first trap belt is 14 inches, and its gangue consists of calc-spar and lautnonite, with native copper disseminated. In the main range of conglomerate it expands to two and a half feet, ^nd is filled in with calc-spar, and exhibits no trace of copper. The large spaj vein known as the "Green Rock" among the early voy- ageurs, which strikes the shore at Hays's Point, Copper Harber, is un- doubtedly a tjontinuation of the black oxide vein a few rods east of Fort Wilkins. In the first conglomerate belt, the spar was associated with the green and blue silicates of copper. In the second conglomerate belt, it contained, in addition to the silicates, large masses of olack oxide of copper. In the bottom of the harbor, when the water is tranquil, a spar veirt, lostitute of copper, is seen in the included trap, corresponding to the direction of the vein in the conglomerate on either side. Thus there can be little doubt that the veins of Keweenaw Point traverse different mineral planes, and, in their passage through them, un- rgo marked changes in their gangues and metallic contents. h\ Isle Royale, the veins exhibit the same changes. Mr. Shaw sank a bfiaft on a vein, above Scovill's Point, to the depth of ninety six feet. For thirty feet the rock was soft, in which the vein was well developed, expanding in places to four leet in width, and containing considerable cop- per. At that depth a band of columnar trap wa? struck and penetrated to the depth of sixty-six feet. The vein contrioted ^> a foot in width, and was nearly barren and worthless. Mr. Whittlesey, the former agent of the Siskawit iiiine, informed us that, at their works, the columnar trap was intersected at the depth y'^{ thirty- five feet; that the vein was well exposed m the overlying amygdaloidal trap, but that on entering the columnar trap it narrowed to a mere fissure. The same resui ^ followed tjie explorations on section 27, township 66, range 34, belonging to thp Ohio and Isle Royale Company. On section iS, township 67, range 33, a vein bearing north 50° east, the gangue of which consists of quartz, chlorite, and calc-spar, with con- siderable native copper, is seen traversing a trappean rock composed of hortibiende and feldspar, higlily crystalline. Mr. Shaw sank on this vein 172 Doc. No. 69. ^ I to the depth of fifteen feet, when he intersected a dark nornbiend'A trap, , in which the vein lost its character and became won! i^ss. ' v fri w.i The most striking illustration of the changes of '. vein in Us passage through differ^it nnneral planes is to be seen on the northwest coast of this island. The cliffs consist of numerous alternations of greenstone and porphyry, which are cut by a vein varying from a frtw inches to two feet in width. The upper portion of the vein ut a, is made up of trappean matter; a few feet lower down, at 6, the gangue is entirely qnartzose; still lower it gives place to calc-spar. It may be seen in the annexed figure; p, p, p, represent bands of porphyry; of, the lowest band of ix)rphyry seen, which is amygdaloidal, the cavities being filled with calc-spar, below which point tliis substance entirely fills the space betweeen the walls, indioating a common origin of the calcareous matter both of the vein and the porphyritic band. The bands of phophyry are separated from the trap by thin layers of laUniOnite. re:-:, i.. < .|<» <-,!ii'it>'^,» yij ;^ -wi i,:v;U j- n. Mti , . . ■ ■ ''v '• . ■ ■ ■■......, Formation of veins. — The manner in which veins oqiur would seem to indicate that they were rents or fissures formed subsequently to the con- solidation of the different mineral planes. The parallelism exhibited in the same system of veins would further indicate that thSir direction had been determined, not by fortuitous circumstances, but by the operation of general laws. The materials composing the gangue of veins are often arranged in f)arallel plates, constituting what the Cornish miners call comby lodes. De aBeche supposes that this arrangement resulted from successive openings of the fissure. ',:,,>' The following is a section of the gangue of a vein on the southeast quarter of section 10, township 60, range 39, Isle Royale: 1. Laumonite, half of aninch. I' 2. Prehnite, wjlh native copper, two inches. 3. Clay, pfobably decomposed chlorite, one inch. This vein appears to have been subject to three successive openings. The east vein of th<.' Northwest Company ex- hibits two combs: that attached to the loot- wall, six inches in width, is composed of calc-spar with little copper; that attached to the hanging- wall, .'•(f • '^ :, "i' i ::r : twelve inches in width, consists ot chlorite, quartz, and calc-spar, investing copper in spangles and masses. We have given sections of several veins in ihe chapter on mines, and they may be referred to in the further illustration of the structure of the veins of this region. In the Cliff vein, there are two combs — that attached to vthe foot- wall containing most of the masses, while the other carries disseminated copper. The sheets of native copper, as a general thing, though not invariably occupy the foot-wall of the vein. lirt »» llClti ciysiais occur mvesiiug me w;'iis, wiui uieir faces opposue, ido trap, passage ; coast ot eenstone )m a frtw )rtion of few feet ose; still on in the ihyry; g foreign substances, the theory of which may be thus briefly summed up: 1. Mht roasting or caicination. — This process is performed either in peculiar furnaces or in roasting pitsor heaps. By it the greater portion of the sulphur is oxidized; the metals are converted into Ijasic sulphates, which remain mixed with the portions of the ore which have escaped oxi- dation. 2. FHrst fusion or meiiinff for coarse metal. — Silicious substances are added, if necessary, in sufficient quantity to take up the iron, which combines it together, to form silica of the protoxide of iron, making a fusible slag; the sulpliuric acid is reduced to sulpSu«i, and the oxide of copper to cop|)er, and sulphuret of copper is formed. The heavy combi- nation of fulphur and copper sinks to the bottom of the furnace, while the light slag floats on the surface. This sulphuret of copper still con- tains considerable sulphuret of iron. ?>. Second roasting or calcinatio7i of coarse metal . — The mass obtained by the last process is now broken up, and again roasted for several weeks in peculiar furnaces. The object of this operation is to oxidize thea>pp€r. 4. Second fusion. — The ore is again fused, with the addition of sili- cious substances, if necessary — the object of which treatment is to take up the portion of iron which still remains. The copper obtained by this process still contains many impurities: it is called black metal. 5. Refining. — The copper is fused slnd subjected to a process by which the foreign metais present in it are oxidized, and form a crust on the sur- face of the fused mass, which is constantly skimmed off". The copper is treated in this way till it acquires the properties of the pure metal, when tlie operation is suspended. It is then cast in ingots, or cooled upon the sur- face by throwing on water, and removed in successive flat masses, called rosettes. This is the general description of the processes by which the ores are treated, though the details vary much in dilFerent countries and under ditfcrent circumstances. The number of distinct processes which the ore undergoes in the great smelting establishments of Swansea is at least ten, which are entirely distinct from each other. The sulphurets of copper there require a long and expensive process for smelting — a process w'aich demands the highest metallurgic skill, and a large amount of capital. Eight companies have the control of the great Welsh furnaces, where so large a portion of the copper used throughout the world is smelted. The question arises then, Are the sulphurets of copper destined to form an important part of the production of the I^ake Su|)erior mines? The occurrence of the sulphurets of copper in the Lake Superior regiors is by no means a very uncommon iiict. Two localities have luaiisiied n are • 111)69 into treat- ained from iron. L long oreign her in tion of ihates, 3(1 oxi- C€8 are which king a .xide of covubi- !, while till con- ibtained weeks 1 of sili- take up by this >y which the sur- sopper is khen tlie the sur- s, called ores are id under Ihich the is at lt5ast rocess for [ill, and a Ithe great jioughout j(l to form I? lor region Ifuiuisi**^^ Dbc. No..69J 181) ground for mining o])oration$ — one of which has been entirely abandoned i th« other is tein{H)rarily anspunded, thongh it is believed thut the naite i>i not considered by the pmpriotors as entirely proved. The ore in eaoli of these cases is mostly the l)lack sulphuret. The yellow ore is found iu comparatively small quantity, tissociated wilh the variegtited. We do tu)t believe that appearanceN tlius Uvr indicatu thut any ore of copper uxInlh in the Lake Saperior region in sutiiciunt quantity to be worthy of buing worked. We have, therefore, a conqMiratiVoly .simple task to diw^iAs ilu» metallurgy proper of this district, since nature fnruislioH us with tb« pure metal, associated with easilyrfuaed veinstones, fn)n» which il can bo ise|>- arated by the simplest of ptxtctisses — fusion. The native copper is considered, by the miners as coming, under t'ln/e distinct heads, according, to its laate of nulidivision iu tlu) ruck, and the fiize of the pieces of the metal. Thoy are as follows: Isti. Mass. * 2d. Ha neb work. 3di. Stamp- work. 1. Mass. — In stcipeiiig^ when a large sheet of copper occurs in the vein, the rock is removed from one sido of it, and it is thrown down by means of a sand-blast, and tlius lies or stands upon the bottotn of tlie lovr.l or drift. Masses have boeu (leta(lic4 from the vein wbicb were osti- niated to weigh ()() or, 70 tons, mostly of solid co[»p«'r, in an irregulnr, llat- tened, tabular shape, now expanding to a width of iVom 2 to H fut;t, and then contracting to a lew incbca, but firmly unitcJ. (^f course, such a mass is too large to Iw moved in tlie level or raisod to the surface, and it is of importanco tli.'it as litile of th(! process of snl)divi,'^it)n ay pos- sible should be done under ground, since the operation, which must necessarily last a long time, impedes tlie work in the mine, and is Icfis conveniently executed in a narrow, confined space, whore easy iic('|)er is as piini as jKissihle, and the small, which is carri(fd through the mass till parts. To olfect this, one person holds a thickness conqjaratively it is separated into two chistfl, the cutting edge of whicli is about three- fourths of an incji in wiroce.ss than this, tcdirtus and expensive as it may seem tf» be, has yet been resorted to for dividing the iimK.se.s= If the blocks were of lium copper, and not liable to contain baiuLs and nodules of silicious mat- 182. Doc. No. 69. .1 ter, it is pTobabte that a machine might be contrived f<>r performing the operation by a kind of saw, driven by steam-power, somewhat similar to that used in dividing railroad bars, leaking into consideration, however, the difficulty just Rjentioned, it seems doubtful whether any more eco- nomical or efficacious means can be contrived than that which is already in Hse. It has been suggested that fusion of the masses might be effected, so as to divide them in that manner; but the fact that copper is so good a conductor that it would be impossible to confine the effect of the heat to a limited space and obtain a temperatjire high enough to produce fusion at a particular point seems to render any such method inapplicable. The greatest thickness of a solid mass of copper, without seam or breaks observed by us, was two feel four inches. This was at the Cliff mine. At the Minnesota, there appeared to be a solid mass in the vein, at least five feet in thickness. When the masses have been brought to the surface, they are still further subdivided, if necessary, into blocks varying from one to two tons in weight — such as may be conveniently transported to the lake, whence they are shipped to market. The Boston and Pittsburg (Cliff) Company have erected a furnace at Pittsburg for fusing these masses — the details of which ,^ however, the trustees do not allow to be made public. There is no prac- tical difficulty whatever in the way of obtaining the copper at once perfectly pure. The veinstone consists generally of fusible minerals, such as prehnite and the zeolitic minerals, or of quartz and calcareous spar, which flow readily together. In the report of the trustees of the Pittsburg Com- pany the per centage of the mass is estimated at 60 of pure copper in 100. 2. Bairelwork. — This is the name given at the Lake Supeiior mines to the smaller masses of crtpper, which are loo large to go under the stainpsy and too small to be shipped separately. It includes masses of cop- per in bunches and string-like forms, which are firmly bound together Avith a greater or less amount of the veinstone, and weighing from a few pounds up to several hundred. These smaller masses are picked out from the matter raised to the surface, and dressed by the hanmier, so as to free them, as much as possible, from tlie adhering rock or veinstone-. They are then barrelled up in stout casks, which hold from five to eight hundred pounds of metal and rock. These are smelted by the Pittsburg Company, with the larger masses. The barrel-work at the Clitf mine is estimated at 50 per cent of pure copper. The proportion of barrel-work to stamp-work furnished by the Ckff mine will be seen by reference to the table appended to the account of tliatmine, under the head of '< Mines and Mining." 3. Stamp-work. — Tliis includes all the veinstone with metallic cofh per in sufficient quantity to allow of itp being separated by the process of washing after the stumping. The limit of the quantity of copper con- tiiined in the rook which may be profitably stamped and wasiied, we cannot yet fix with certainty This depends on a variety of circum- stances: as, for instance, the price of labor, the economical arrangement of the works above ground, and, especially, the construction of (he wasFi- ing apparatus. The great difi'erence in the specific gravity of the vein- stone and the metallic copf)er — the former being ironi 2.7 to 3.5, the latter nearly 9 — renders a perlbct separation of the two very easy, and requires a much less complicated and scientific arrangement of the machinery Doc. No. 69. 183 than in those cases where the ore is only a little heavier than the gangne. Of course, as the country becomes settled , and the price of labor fails, and greater method is introduced into the works, a rock containing a smaller per centage of copper may be profitably worked. Before the rock is stamped, it is necessary tiiat it should be roasted, in order that the veinstone, especially ihe quartz, may be rendered friable, so that it wil idily yield to Iho blows of the stuirips. The roasting is effected in the i,jjen air. The rock containing the copper is arranged iu alternate layers with billets of wood, and then fired, and allowed to smoulder for forty-eight hours. The heat should not be carried suffi- ciently far to cause any portion of the copper to be fused. If necessary, water may be dashed upon the heap while still hot, to aid in destroying the cohesion between the particles of the rock. The price of fuel is so low that this method will undobtedly be em- ployed, although a more economical one might probably be devised. Fig. Sfi. ;) ( a o C3 C^T -.fnn^iiy; til' After having been calcined, the ores are taken to the stamping-mill. This con- sists of several pestles of wood in a ver- tical position, to which heads of iron, weighing 20U pounds or more, are at- tached. A cylindrical axle revolves hori- zontally, and is armed with cams, which, acting successively, catch into the should- ers of the pestles and raise them to the required height, when they are disen- gaged and fall into an oblong cast iron trough, which is fed with ore from a hop- [)er above. Three or four pestles com- !^ pose a battery, and several batteries are ■ usually employed in a stamping-mill. Figures 30 and 37 represent the arrange- r jnt and form of the stamps used at the Oi • if mine —the former being a front view single battery with four pestles, Oi v/hile figure 37 is a section showing the manner in which the ore and water a:e introduced. An attempt was made at the Cliff mii.e to stamp the ore dry, and also at the Lake Superior Conijiuny's works to pulverize it by a pair of crushin'g- wheels; but it is satisfactorily demonstrated that the Lake Superior ores can be stamped only by the aid of water. After stamping, comes the much more diflicult process of washing the metal from pulverized rock. So that every particle may be separated with- out loss. As the present methods nf washing practised on the lake are very miperfect, we add an account of the most approved machinery foj that purpose used in the French and Cerman mines. 181 Dottom of the vessel, SVashinjj can be very fct- fffttly p?!tfi»^riiOd ill this \ Way with sufficient caW; / an,l, sinlnle as the method i.s, It is ono which is ex- tensively used in the wasli- iiij? of auriferous sandd. Tlio me thing can, how- ever, bo eiTected nniolv more economically by va- rious mechanical conlri- yancos, such as jwrcussion and sleeping tables. The water us it issues IVom under thti wiumps is made to circulate tl'uuugh ft systetn of canals called u labyrinth, carrying with it the pul- verized oifo which is distiibnted at j)oints more or less rcnioitt, de- jwiiilent otk tlio sho and si)ecirrc gravity of the panicles. (See figiire 38 which it'piV!-ev.ts tho most approved fohn o( this apparatus.) In these Fig. at^. troughs the metallic parti- cles are dejiosited incon- stantly decreasing quan- tity from the end neiu^st the stamps to tho place of exit, where the earthy par- ticles ure carried out de- prived of all the ore with which they had been pre- viously intermixed. The san>e thing may be etTecii'd by the opeiatio»i calleil riddling, or jig^iri j — an o|>eration which is performed principsdly on the rubbish produced in breaking tho ores. This may be done by hand em- ploying a kind of sieve or riddle, the bottom of which is covered by a p!atc of metal pierced with holes, which is jerked up ajul down, with a jKUtially rotatory movement, in a cislevu of water. •I Doc. No. 69, 185' The water outers iho orifices arid holds the particles of ore and ganguo suNpetHled for a niomont, when they arrange tluMiiafjIves in the order of th(!ir specific gruvitios, and are thuH deposited in the sieve, and nfter- wards 8e|)arated, the up{x;r iK)rtion- being removed by a spatnia and re- Fiff. 31). jected. Figure 39 represents a simple and effective instni- irteut now UHud in tlio Harz T this purpose. The sieves or riddles are in this ma- chine fixed, and the water is made to ascend and descend rough them by the alternate vertical motion of a solid pis- ton. Hy this arrangement tfie •cess of riddling can be per- lornied with, great ease and jx^rfection. The copper can be perfectly sepanited from the gungue in. the Lake Superior ores by .. ... . washing the deposites which, have accumulated in the labyrinth by means of what are called sleeping-'- tables. Figure 4U represents a section of the common sleeping luble. Fig 40. It consists, in general, of an inclined board, at the elevated end of which, a stream of water is made to run upon the mixed mass of pulverized metal and gangue. The water, as it descends the inclined surface, car- ries wijh it the particles, which tend constantly to deposite themselves in the order of their syiecific gravity, the heaviest nearest the upper end of tlie table. A workman, with a kind of rake, continually pushes the de- scending materials upwards, till the metallic portions have become suffi- ciently sojxirated from the particles of the gangue. The former are thou removed by o|)ening a slide, through which they are allowed to full into a suitable receptacle beneath. The sanie processes are re|)eatcd till a. complete separation has been effected. The washed metal is then packed in strong casks and transported to the fnrnace, where the smelting is per- formed, and the copper is cast into suitable shape for the market. I IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) 1.0 I.I 1.25 '^ IIP t 1^ 12.0 1.8 U 11.6 V] <^ /i / y Photographic Sciences Corporation \ I* ■'^^ S o '% V :, ^ ^S'. ^ C> ^^9.^ 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14S80 (716) 872-4503 166t Doe. No. 69i '••'••■^rrt^j f'ff!-, '>-;r> *]o :'«)ij;v')7nq -^rlr fffijiuf hi\r. p.-ytHivt 'i.'fj -■'Ma'" v>'mi otVV ■re ,«r/«:;^. Mfl'' u(- f OHAPTER VTII.''"'' ■*'«'^*''J'y "'i^i»vrj!i 'i-*:'* O'ljlf: •Sff •=»«'>■•': /I CHAPTER VIII. DRIFT OF THE LAKE SUPERIOR LAND DISTRICT. •■\:i'p^ Kin. H Intrnduciory rdnte^ksi— Drift of the valley of thk St. Laurence. — Of Lake Superior. — Divistion of the drifts. — Peculiarities of tho. coarse drifts. — Names given, to the drift clay. — Thickness. — Composition. — Stratiji' cation. — Extent. — Origin. — Drift sand and gravel. — Composition. — Thickness. — Exteni. — Stratifcaiion. — Composition. — Origin. — Influ- ence of the waves. — Inference. — Boulders. — Their size ana distribution 'and mineral composition. — Origin. — Transportation. — Limitation.— Their relation to the drift. • T!| 'Iff >f;-'» ingt on the rock. This is the drift clay of Lake Supeiior. 3d. Adepositeof sand, gravel, and pebbles, irregularly stratified, resting upon the clay, or upon the rock itself. 4th. A Considerable numbei of isolated boulders, scattered over the whole region, forming the uppermost portion of the drift deposites. The polished and grooved surfaces which occur in connexion. with the drift, constitute, likewise, a most important feature in its history. Finally, there are thQ drift terraces and ridges, which likewise deserve a close examination, in order to ascertain their bearing in reference to the chaiiges of level whiph have taken place during and since the drift epoch. . , ,uu>o i. .,j i ..j .j.i}a 1 . Coarse diift. — This deposite is the least conspicuous of all. It is found only in a few places along the southern shore of Lake Superior, generally capping the higH towering cliffs of sandstone, (as, for example, at the Red Castles, west of the Portage, and also at the top of the Pictured Rpcks.) It is generally a mixture of loam and fragments of rock of different size — sometimes worn, but more generally angular. As a leading feature, we may state that it is almost exclusively composed of fragments of the rocks in situ, showing that, whatever may have been its origin, it could not have been acted upon by long-continued agencies. After ^a careful examination, I found but iew foreign pebbles, mostly of trap, scattered through the mass, and evidently derived from the neighbor- hood. The whole mass is nowhere more than thirty feet thick. We ought to add further, that in many places the pebbles may be seen disap- pearing gradually, and the whole passing into a regular drift clay. This aef)Osite might, perhaps, seem hardly worth mentioniug, were it not that its peculiar structure and its position remind us of a similar de- posite widely diffused throughout New England, especially in the moun- tainous districts of Vermont, where it forms the most conspi(*.uous feature of the drift. 2. Drift clay, or red clay. — This deposite has been long ago recognised as a peculiar one, distinct from the drift-gravel and sand above it, and the coarse drift beneath it. It has been described by the geologists of the Michigan State survey as the tertiary clay of Lake Superior. From its red color, which is one of its leading features, if. is also called by some red clay. It is difficult to determine its aver ige thickness, iron; the fact that, in many places where it is highly developed, it sinks below the waters of the lake, and in other cases, where its base is visible, its top has been partly washed away. There are, however, some places (for example, at the western portion of the Grand Sable) where it maybe seen undisturbed in its natural position, its base resting on the nlmost horizontal strata of red sandstone, a few feet above the water, whilst its top is covered by a considerable mass of drift sand. I found the deposite in this place to be sixty feet in thickness, exhibiting hnes of stratification disposed with much regularity. Its upper limit may be here seen stretching in a horizontal line for a long distance. We may well consider this locality as indicating the average tliickness of the clay . However distinct the upper limit of the clay may be in general, it is also seen in many localities al- ternating with the sand above, or passing gradually into it — thus showing tliat both de^ osites, although of different materials, belong, nevertheless. m» m^. ite Q9fJ to tfife same fonnatiott, and therefbre thht there is no real ground to coh- sider the clay as being a part of the tertiary formation As far as its composition is concerned, it appears to be a mixture^ of loam and clay, and its color is owing to the decomposition of the red sandstone and trap from which it has wen derived. Though the rriaia mass of the clay stratum is composed of very finely comminuted' substances, and of-' teintimes reduced to an almost irtipalpable powder j yet there are many pebbles interspersed through it, and even bouMers' of considerable size, generally rounded and smoothed. Fragments of metallic ores and native copper occur oocasiomiUy in it-'— the latter sometimes weighing several' hundred pounds. It was by means of the fragments of copper scat- tered through the clay thaf the attention of the early travellers was first attracted to the copper mines of that region', which are' now so extensively wrought. As a whole, the great ddy stratum of Lake Sti|«rior cannot be con- sidered as beingregulariy stratified, though there may be seen in mawy^ places bands of di'Sferent color, and differing in the size of the materials, resembling in their regularity a kind of stratificationi Neither is there- any striking variety to be observed between the materials^ either at the- base or at the top; so that the conditions under which the dfeposite was* formed'mwst have been uniform, and rather quiet. As to its exitent, it appears, from what we know, to be spread over an immense tract of country. Not only is it found along: the whole southern coast' of Lake SUprior to Pbnd du Lac, and along the St. Louis river as fkr as geologists hate extended their investigations, but it occurs also on' the north shore, where it has been traced for aconsiderab'le distance along several rivers whieh empty into the lake. It was ©bserved, however, by Mr. Whittlesey, that to the northwest of Lak« Superior the drift assumes an ash-colored tinti which is owing, no ^oubt, to the absence of red sand- stone in these regions; If we were' to consider merely the position of this clay as it appears- on the southern border of Lake Superif "ming, as it does, a regular stratum, resting upon the red sandstor.>^ ]' being limited to a certain lieight, where it is followed by the dritt sand, we might well conclude that it was deposited in a circumscribed basin. This is, indeed, the im- pression which a traveller might receive if he were raerely to coast around .the lake. Such an impression would be^ however, entirely erroneous; for, in ascending the highlands which rise behind those cliffs, we meet again with the same clay at an elevation of from six to eight hundred feet — as, for instance, near the Jackson location on Carp river, and in several places along the road leading to it. It also forms lofty cliflfe on the river Ontonagon— as high as fiVe hundred feet. In all these places its composi- tion' is the same as along the lake shore, being quite as comminuted, and forming the same sticky loam when Wet. It ought to be observed, how- ever, that, on the whole, it seems to be limited merely to the depressions of the soil, and never to cover the culminatiug points. 3. Dri/t sand and gravel. — This is the most widely diffused of all the drift deposites along the shore of Lake Superior, as well as over the whole northern part of the country. It not only covers the clay deposite in most of the localities where the latter has been observed, but also extends over many places where tliis does not reach. We have stated that the clay, even at its highest level, was generally limited' to the depressions. The Doc. No. 69. 1)89 md to coh- I (Ar as its and clay, le and trap )f the clay 8, and of-' are many fable si 26) and native ing several' opper scat- 's was first' extensively ot' be cow- n in maK}^ i materials) i^r is there- ther at the- iposite was' jad over an ilesoutherH lis river as irs also on- tance along owever, byi ift assumes if red sand- I it appears- •!, a regular to a certain II conclude ed, the im- )ast around erroneous ; s, we meet dred feet — in several n the river s composi- 'luted, and ved, how- epressions of all the the whole te in most tends over t the clay, mm. The drift sand and gravel have no such limitations. It is found on the tip- lands and along the slopes of tl;e hills, as well as in the depressions. Although separated from the drift cf the western prairies by the dividing ridge between the upper peninsula of Michigan and Wisconsin, yet in many places, where the riage is not of considerable elevation, it may be seen passing directly from one slope to the other, especially on the south- eastern corner of the lake — as we shall have occasion to show hereafwr. It. is likewise said to pass from one slope to the other at the southwestern border between the lake and the headwaters of the Mississippi. It is found on the highest summits of the Pictured Rocksi — nearly two hundred feet. Its relation to the drift clay can be easily ascertainetl merely from the state of the roads and trails, which are generally dry and pleasant on the drift sand. No rule obtains as to the composition of the drift'saiid and gravel, either in reference to the size or the mineralogieal character of the materials. Layers of line sand alternate in every possible way with layers of peb- bles — sometimes by a gradual transition, at others rather abruptly. The pebbles themselves are composed of all kinds of stone — some from the immediate neighborhood, others from )4aces more remote. They are generallv rounded aiid smoothed, showing that they must have under- gone a prolonged and violent motion> such as could havq taken place only in the water. The same is the case with the boulders imbedded in the mass, of which there are many of considerable size — from five to six feet through. Many of the boulders are also covered with scratches, such as could have been produced only by a violent and steady rubbing. We would state, besides, as a further peculiarity of the drift pebbles and boulders, that they are generally clean, there being no loam or< mud at- tached to them— a peculiarity which is in itself sufficient to distinguish the gravel dru^t from the loam deposites of coarse drift before described. The thickness of the drift-sand and gravel, like that of the clay, is best ascertained along the shore of the lake. There seems to be a sort of an- tagonism as to tlie relative thickness of both deposites between th^ east- ern and western portion&of the lake shore. Whilst the clay seems to;as- sume its greatest thickness west of Keweenaw Point, the sand and gravel seem: most developed to the east of that, point. > Its grea<(est thickness we fbund to be at Grand Sable, where the coast rises, according to Mr.>Whit- jiey's barometrical measurement, 360 feet above the lake; and since the clay stratum underneath is only sixty feet thick, it gives«n amountof three hundred feet for the sand and gravel deposite. From that spot the same drift ideposite may be seen extending in the form of a high cliff, to the southeast, generally some miles distant from the lake shore; until it reaches it again at Point Iroquois, where it rises almost to the same height — 345 feet; thence it sinks gradu ally towards the ^iaut. A further peculiarity of the driflsand and gravel deposites we would mention — their iwegulaaf and undulating surface, especially where they cover wide tracts of country: as, for instance, in the plains of Wisconsin and Illinois, which, from this feature, have beenilenominated roiling prairies, in op- position to the level prairies, which are. mostly alluvial. The shores of Lake Superior are, in this respect, less striking^owing, nc doubt, to the fact that the country is less level, and also in consequence of the forests which cover the ground almost everywhere. The summit of the Grand Sable, as will be notice! subsequently, is the place where this undula- 11W) Doc.Nfien a great ;ieie the val- puldersfirosm ! a ridge did sinking in- ickson loca- it qviantijti^s none on the as a ibarrier, on prevails, region,be- Ig^ nothipg [iertochepk e, very limit ,e Lake Su- , jnore ^hau from whiph lere is.satis- ipecialiy tjie [place of the it?ites of the ji;, and.frpm |y otfoer, de- pts to solve quantity of on tbe^ur- tgelf a proof Is. fiut be- ,f",/^,f£.^ .,•-.,. r»r f\<.»* r ■ .} ilVlA nT(»»'>' s.«»»\'« .'■■> cause they are of a more recent origin, this does by no means prove that they are disconnected from the other drift doposites. We have seen thnt an abundance of boulders are to be found both in the drift clay and f^aud of Lake Superior. The only difference between them is, that wliiht those of the surface are often more or less angular, those imbedded in t!ie clay and sand are generally more rounded, and often scratched and striated — a peculiarity which we shall afterwards attempt to explain. Now, as the boulders within the drift are of the same kind as those of the surface, and have, like them, a northern origin, (thotigh sometimes not a great way off,) we are naturally led to the inference that they Were. transported by the same agencies, which must, therefore, have been at work during th^ deposition of the drift period. Moreover, this agency must have been as powerful at the tinie of the drift and clay deposites as afterwards, since we know that many of the included boulders are as mas- sive and as heavy as those of the surface. It is evident, therefore, th.'>t no theory can be admissible which does not at the same time account satisfactorily for the ' transportation both of the boulders ofthesurfaeo and of those of the drift-sand and clay. 6. Grooved, scratched, and polished rocks. — Whatever opinion we may entertain as to the cause and origip of the drift, there is a point upon which all geologists who are familiar with the subject agree, viz: that there is an unquestionable connexion between the, drift-deposites and the rounded, smoothed, and grooved appearance of the rocks upon which thoy rest. Wherever drift occurs, it is associated with that peculiar appear- ance of the ledges, which is instantly recognised. The surfaces are th(^ more perfect, as the rocks are harder and less prone to disintegration. Thuti n our district they are mostdistinct on the trapand compact slates ; lef-s so on the granite and compact limestone; and are not expected to bo found on the sedimentary limestones, in many places the striaa and fuiTows have dilsappeareJ in consequence of the disintegration, and there remains nothing but the rounded outline of the rocks, which, from their resem- blance to fleecy clouds, have been called, in the Alps, fleecy rocks. In many instances the polished and grooved f ."'^ ces are concealed by the drift, and are not visible until by some means d e deposite is removed. This explains sufficiently why so general a phenomenon should have been' for so long a time overlwced by geologists; for it is only about forty years since it was first mentioned, and only ten years since it was brought into general notice. One striking peculiarity of the rocks subjected to erratic agency consists in th6 fact that, whilst one side is smoothed down , the oppo- site side is rough and angular, as if it had been sheltered from the abradir>g process. These are known as the lea and strike sides. By means of this feature we are enabled to recognise the direction in which the erratioagency operated, even where there are no scratches. The lea side is invariably to the south over the whole of this district — a feature which we ought to expect, when we consider the origin of the groovings. As a leading feature of all groovings, we may mention their straight course. Whatever the direction, they are in stiaight lines, whether coii- tinuous or interrupted — thus showing that they must have been formed by an agency unyielding and steadily applied. There is but one instance where curved strias have been observed in thii region, which will be no- ticed hereafter. Groovings of all sizes occur. The m.^st conirnon I'.'rm is that oi'i>av,i!- 194 ••'■;l Doc. ,^.«?f lei furrows from one to two and four lines wide — sometimes extending bnt a foot, at others many yards. Where the rock is excessively hard they are mere striee, which are often as distinct and sharp as though they had been sraven with the point of a diamond. Hollow spots are observed, as thougn they had been scooped out by a round instrument; also, W8 ob- serve wide bowl-shaped depressions, known as /row^Aj, and which have been caused by the same agency, since they are always found parallel ■with the striae. Instances of all these different forms exist on both shores of the lake and on IsleB^yale. As to the direction of the srrioj in this district, it will be seen that, with the exception of a few local deviations, they are northeast and southwest — a direction which also prevails along the western shore of Michigan, and in portions of the western States. This direction forms a striking contrast with that which prevails throughout New England. There, they bear north westand southeast. We shall hereafter attempt to explain this singular opposition in the stria? of the two regions east and west of the Allegha- nies, and show their relation in determining the 'leading features oi the continent. 6. Terraces and ridges. — The terraces and ridges of the great lakes have of late attracted a good deal of attention, inasmuch as they have a direct bearing upon the question of the changes of level which the sur- face is supposed lo have undergone during the epoch of the drifY. They may be seen both on the south and the north shores of Ijake Superior, though they are less striking here than around the lower lakes, (Erie and Ontario.) Those of the north shore of Lake Superior have been de- scribed by Mr. Logan. They are most conspicuous at a locality called "Les Petits Ecrits," of which Mr. Eliott Cabot has given a fine sketch in his Narrative. Those of the south shore have thus far been but little noticed, probably because they occur chiefly in that portion of the lake-dis- trict which is the least visited, viz: between the Saut and Keweenaw Point. Bbyo^nd that point, there may be seen, in many places, along the shore of the copper region, high bluffs of drift; but they nowhere assume that stair-like form which is the characteristic feature of terraces. To avoid confusion, it might not be inappropriate to explain what is meant by the terms terrace, bluff, and ridge, as we shall have to allude frequently to them in the following descriptions. Drift bluffs, or cliffs, are those - accumulations of loose materials which terminate Abruptly in steep slopes. The steepness of the slope depends in most cases chiefly upon the kind of materials of which the bluff is composed. Thus, bluffs of clay are steeper than bluffs of loam, and bluffs of loam steeper than bluffs of sand jix gravel. The term, terrace, is applied when several such slopes are seen one above the oiher, so as to appear like the steps of a stair-case. Ridges differ from terraces in having a doable slope, and being, therefore, real hills; whereas bluffs and terraces are merely the margins of plateaux. In a geological point of view, the terraces are by far the most important of these three forms, since they afford direct evidences of the changes of level which haVe occurred since the deposition of the drift. There can be no doubt that, wherever terraces of stratified materials are found above each other, the waters have once stood at so many levels. It might be, and indeed it has been, inferred from this, that when terraces eccur along ashore, they ought to be found everywhere of the same size; and hence; that when their level is irreglilar, it is a proof that the up- IPlec. No. ^9. w^w 1 they Y had ed,as ra ob- i have arallel shores ' ' " : ', I, with west — n, and OFiitrast y bear ingular llegha- oflhe ^n•>il•'■i^^■^■ it lakes have a the sur- They uperior, Zxie and ►een de- ty called e sketch but little ake-dis- weenaw ong the assume es. To leant by jqnently re those slopes, he kind ftiay are of sand lopes are lair-case. lerefore, |)lateaux. nporiant langes of Ihere can |re found rels. It terraces |me size; the up- I '9lf. heaval u^as not uniform. This view, although correct in principle, Lb, however, apt to l<}ad to mistakes when applied without discriroination. Fig. 41. ,, ,;.,,j^, Sappose diagram 41 to repre- I sent u lake. Let the water sink, ! or ratlier the land rise, at different /^•intervals, so as to reduce succes- jsively the water-level from a to b, j and then from 6, to c. The beach- line, (provided there be one,) striking the shore in an uninterrupted manner, will be found everywhere at the same level; but it by no means follows that the resulting terraces will be found unifprm arouud the whole lake. The error in this respect arii^es from the fact that terraces have been too often mistaken for, 9r confounded with, mere beaches. It should not be lost sight of that terraces and bluffs are the result of the undermiiiiug action of the wav«s. Their size and shape must therefore be determined by the foifce of this agency. If a basin of water is so situated as to have one of its sI^qs exposed to the full force of gales, while the, opposite sho^e is sheltered by highlands, we may easily conceive of a subsidence of the waters from a higher to a lower level, without at all altering the slope of the coast: 9S, tor example, on the left side of the basin, i, in diagram 41. lu th^ mean time, the right shore, not being protected, will be so acted upon ap to occasion a successiqn of terraces. A^aiu, the destructive action niay be so effective iu certain places as to was1i off, in the course oif tipie, eiwu the terraces of former levels, and to leave only a single bluff, as in4icated ' by the dotted lijae. There are many places along the lake shore where the peculiar ^lape ■of the terraces and their diversity are to be- ascribed to such a process. The diagram 42 will render this still more evident. There can be no doubt that the wafer Once stood at the foot of the upper terrace, »w, and tihi^t, while stationary, the upp^sr bluff was formed. Afteriwariis^ the water-level sank, ;wd another bluff was formed at n, and, stiU \atfii(,. another at o The suolidence of the water must have been iutermittentt — the epochs of subsidence, which are indicated by the areas between Ihe terraces, being tollpwed by intervals of quiet, during which tlje tertaces were formed. But this regular succession of terraces does not extend far. It is limited to a small space iu our diagram; and, as we advance towards t(ie left, we see the intervids between the terraces growing more and more rtarrow, till they completely disappear — being, as it were, crowded into a single bluff B. Further on, we see the bluff itself increasing ^p- ialy in height, and by-and-by disappearing entirely, leaving nothing but a gentle uniform slope, A. In the above instance, the cir<;u)Qi8tan9e that thes^ different forms of terraces occur within a narrow spetce, and pass gradually into eacli other, excludes at once tlie idea of a local change of level. It must be evident to any one that they cannot but be the result of actual causes. But, should they occur at great, disftance.s, Fig. 43. IM Doc. No. 69i tttJr ■'? »■■>'...■ n^im 'fi'f such differences mfght easily lead to error. Let us sappose, for a mo- ment, that we know the above terraces and bluff's merely from transverse Vt$.i3. sections, (such as renresented in fig. 43:) lU 4i,i .,'. would we not infer tnat the difference be- tween the section, B, and section, A, resulted from the' fact that B was raised higher than A, and likewise that B and A were both raised at once, whilst C was raised at three snccessiye intervals ?• Thus, not taking into account the action of the wave», and the po- sition of the shores m reference to the predom- inant winds, (as exemplified in diagram 49,) we might perhaps be induced to recur to ex- travagant hypotheses, call in aid even the trap ri dikes, and other paroxysmal agencies, to ac- count for features which are most readily explained by the mere play of met^brological agencies. However, we do not pretend to assert that the upheavals which laid jare a great portion of the drift deposites have been uniform throughout. We know that there are, almost in every drift country, undoubted proofs of local changes of level afforded by the drift terraces j and we shall have occasion hereafter to refer to such an origin for those dift'erences of level which are to be traced in an ui^interrupted manner over vast tracts of country, especially along the sea shore. But we should be careful to call in such causes only when the phenomena cannot be otherwise explained. Ridges are often associated with terraces, and have frequently been con- founded with them. They differ from terraces in being actual hills, rising from a plain, with a slope on each side. Sometimes they extend for a long distance along the shore of the sea, or an inland lake — as, lor instance. Lakes Erie and Ontario, where they are commonly used as roads, being dryer than the surrounding grounds. From their situation, as well qs their po- sition, these ridges have the greatest analogy to ancient beaches, and there can be no doubt that many of them have no other origin. In that case they are the most reliable evidence for ascertaining local changes. Beaches have almost uniformly gentle slopes, rarely exceeding 12'*; but there are amo«^ the ridges some which are too high, with sjppes too abrupt, to be considered as mere beaches. Since attention was first attracted to them in Sweden, where they go by the nanve of oesars, (which mean sand hills,) I shall designate them henceforth by thf\t name. There is every probability that they were form- ed as shoais, or bars, or banks, underwater, rather than on the border of the coast, since we Ic^ow that such ridges are forming in our day in shallow water both in the sea and large lakes. It ought to be remembered that the summit of these submarine ridges is not always even, nor their /bearing necessarily horizontal ; so' that a slight inequality in their outlines, especially if limited to a narrow space, does no more imply a local change of level than in the case of the terraces before mentioned. Since, from the :;ature of things, raised beaches and oesars are expected to occur in the •Since the washing off takes place grailuallv, there is every possibility that the bluff B, b, was once lower, and that there weie terraces indicating the former levels, (m, h, o,) as in section C.£,but that they h&ve been washed away. Doc. No. 09* lOT I mo- iverse 43:) e be- mlted than both three igiuto he po- edom- Ti49,) to ex- le trap to ac- play of ch laid ghout. proofs II have (f level acts of 1 to call ))ained. en con- , rising r a long' , Lakes g dryer eir po- id there at case leaches ere are It, to be lluffB.ft, In section same localitieif it must be left to the sagacity of the observer to determine in each case to which class they belong. Instances of both have been noticed, at numerous points, nlons; the shores of the lower lakes, but they are less frequent ou the coast o^ Lake Superior, although not entirely wanting. j.'4 v« ■ > . •'• ';»^-A'4\tV>rt*?>- -.':•m«■•A•>rUi--•.V>■th.f^n- ■\«»*'t:^J'^ 'Jm :t^' JW*-.» V ''^tr,>*»'' ■>*'■■■ ^IV'\ hvW Jiiit; ^fib.li'1'' ■•*:n!iv»h ;kIi lit J-- . • ■•i> ,■^.'■\'^^■■(i' "./.O')* 'to/r>n«'- ^ >5Pi tfi Ji rlyi!rtf[iUt>vifini> ;?>-).S' ' "•■'* "t •?'^' ' '^1 tefirl-iwi cn« ii{>iti';/ T-iro; ••"♦urn ('Ht «ii;(.)ri«ti <*»! 't,.'t •'''i' » Jiiolnhiir:',! ''.;n,''T;r.ri'r .jo»jt driw ;'l)!i .'-'.'U Ml:! "■' iiH. ■.•i^. b;u ;uu.vjK ftVWffWstHt M \'^1 ut» M»i»'i V) tjlv?';Mi fwh c.! ri]i;w mli u ri' vi'li}*;? --.■fr^jj ^i-ltnld j>utii*i^-4»i •1"? i); i; jr.*', t!'/;'f M«nt i AlJlM V«9,'i4sp.);,'«i:i' S'.ufjf.it. a?'iv v'^ft-v;*'.! r* .'J^'iMk'b'it' ".'■';■■.»* s^Jifo^'.'"?!'!!''. fcfMi(tf»!«o' 'tor f-ffi'') ;'i-('j,« )■;> if*m« . ii-isitr/r ••ibi-i» '♦di;ff: ■:>!9i:(«o ; ^ ■ yj'-Jj. :*: .y-^ .^([jiUr'tiui.- •■ J-'^- UJ,^?ii*i.j(Aiiil tJ''ls(v/ ' 'Jwn? i;:?'!v/ ^atf-A <)ii'^*-- 'Mu! '>n{j;.'. *p5ir •? >i»;^. .in^ff 'Jriui yiriitir.ljtxt'i'* vw/ i..t?' ..J. 1 •i-y-ii. .v-l ,i :/:'ji; i.i.'i'.Ji! vjU hii Ifi» iSife. i(b/(SS ••.'•vfil Mri*,J!<*(ioi •m''>'''J :iA<<^. iiiMJ:|l'i.()iIi! '<,'» y*!-.'*!! ■Ji ,1 jf-; .»*tlr.; ,->ni CHAPTER IX. - ''''■^ ui* .^a:i>untry. Eagle tast. Datures >m the |)re be- some (revnity if we btly to \yhich [ig the those which occur at the Siskawit Company's location, a few miles east of Rock ^ : bor. The boulders are here very much crowded, so as to cover alms*: -tirely the ground for some distance; but they are limited to the immec^wtte vicinity of the shore, not reaching higher than twenty feet. They ace of moderate size, from one and a half to three feet in diameter, generally rounded and worn. In examining more closely into their com- position, I found them to be for the most part trap, of the varieties known as sienitic, amygdaloid, and varioloid, with some few conglomerate and sandstone blocks — all of which occur on the island itself. This, together with their limitation to the immediate vicinity of the shore, leads me to beUeve that they belong, like those of the Saut, to the alluvium. Boulders are much less numerous in the interior qf the island ; and the opinion was even entertained by some that they were entirely wanting. In crossing the island, however, along the first tier of sections in range 37, 1 succeeded in detecting a granite boulder in the vicinity of. Lake Desor, between the second and third ridge, at a height of 200 feet. Others have been found in similar positions near the eastern extremity of the island, by Mr. Poster, at a height nearly as great. Scanty a* they may be, they afford, nevertheless, a proof that the same agency which scattered the boulders over the slopes and terraces of the south shore had also operated here; and, since there is no granite to be found on the island itself, there can hardly be doubt that they have been derived, like the granite boulders of Keweenaw Point, from the Canadian shore, where it occurs in great quantities. Polished and scratched surfaces. — If drift deposites are scanty on Isle Royale, the phenomenon of the erratic scratches and furrows is the more apparent. The trap ledges being hard, the markings have been pror served with great distinctness; and these are rendered still more con- spicuous by the denudation of the drift. I noticed particularly the pol- ished appearance of the rocks along the eastern portion of the southern shore of the island. The best opportunity for a detailed examination of the glacial phenomena, however, is afforded at the eastern extremity of the island, where several narrow spits or promontories project into the lake. One of these is Scovill's Point; it is rather narrow, with a gentle slope on the south side, whilst the northern is very abrupt. The whole promontory is entirely barren; so that all the peculiarities of the surface, with its gentle swellinj^s and deep, trough-like depressions, maybe easily embraced in a single glance. Mr. Whitney and myself were struck with the close resemblance which these rounded and barran spots bore to some of the higher portions of the Alps: as, for i nstt. nee, near the Grimsel. There is hardly a sharp angle to be seen on the whole promontory, ex- cept where it is the result of recent disintegration. The trough-like de- pressions are just as smooth as the knobs, and oftentimes filled with water, in which I collected several species of shells and a small fish — a species of stickel-back. The glacial furrows, nlthough greatly worn, wore yet easily distin- guishable in several places on the knobs, as well as in the troughs. I found their direction to be north .50° east. Even the northern side of the ptomontory is here, in spite of its vertical slope, smoothed and polished, with distinct indications of strias, showing that the grooving agency has acied on both slopes at once. This is owing, no doubt, to the circum- stance that the direction of Scovill's Point coincides precisely with that of in m Tktm. m a the stria, w^iereby both side's cahie under the influence of the furrowing aigbricy, whilst in other places thbre is biU one side which has been acted it'pbri — the other (the lea side) being sheltered. The whole northern snore of Isle Royale m$ybe considered as one continuous le^ side, in refer- ence to th6 furrowing agency. Indeed, no sooner has the last promontory of the island been turnied, than the rounded and polished appearance ot the rocks disappars entirely. The shore, for the most part, presents nothing but high, steep, and rough walls of trap, without any indication whiitevejf of a glacial agency, except on some of the isolated islands} Whos6 sides ^re occasionally smoothed, but only on iheir southern slope. Afttir having turned the, western extremity, and passed Waahitigtort Hairbor, we meet again with smooth and rounded surfaces; but, from the nature of the rocks, they' are less conspicuous. The shore being com- posed here of sandstone and conglomerate, it is not expected that they would have resisted the disintegrating influence of the atmosphere as well as the trap. Yet there are undoubted traces of. glacial action even on the conglomerates, whose surfaces appear rounded and smoothed, all the pebbles being generally reduced to the saaie level. In some cases, there may also be seen indications of furrows on the sandstone, and even on t'^q conglomerate. Further east, towards Siskawit bay, wh(?rethe sandsfae disappears and the trap again sets in, (see the map of Isle Royale iu TV' .dsrs. Foster & Whitney's report,) the scratches and furrows resume their distinctness. Chippewa harbor deserves in this respect a special notice. It appears, at first, as a mere notch in the outer trap ridge, its back- ground being limited by a wall of highly polished surfaces of a very strir mg appearance. There are also seen in several places distinct marks of strias and furrows, which sho\v the same direction as those described previously at Scovill's Pftint; namely, north 50" east. The most promi- nent, however, are on the left side, immediately at the enirance to the harbor, where there may be seen not only strias and furrows, but also powerful excavations, some ten feet de°r. and from twelve to fifteen wide, extending sometimes from fifty to one hundred feet in length. There are, besides, in the background of the harbor, fine instances of rocks, polished, and worn by the mere action of the waves, which form a curious contrast with the glacial surfaces above, being undulating and scooped out in every possible manner, whilst the latter are remarkably uniform. The develop- ment of t!ie furrows and strias within this harbor is the more remarkable as the rocks outside show not the least indication^ of similar phenomena — the ledges along ihe coast being, on the contrary, very rough and broken. This can be accounted for only by supposing that thcoc rocks, which are now so broken and irregular, were once just as perfectly smoothed and polished as those within the harbqr; but that, being brittle, and expwsed to the most violent action of the waves and galos, they have been destroyed; whilst others, being more sheltered, have retained their primitive beauty'. There may also be seen in the background of Chippewa harbor an accu- mulation of angular boulders, which must have been stranded thereby ice very recently, for they are observed heaped up around large trees, which certainly have not grown in this condition. Finally, Isle Royale affords rnany instances of strange local deviations in the distribution of the strieD. On the shores of Ackley bay 1 found on the trap ledges, strise running due east and west, and crossing others whose direction was northeast and -southwest, and others again running soifth 75° east. 1 noticed further. ! furrowing been acted 8 northern ie, in refer- promontory pearance ot •t, presents { iiidica'tipn ted islands) Lhern slope, rtTaahitigtoil ; but, from being com- i that they here as weU even on the led, all the cases, there even on t'^e e sand st^ ad e in ^^ ^cssrs. esume their 3cial notice. ;e, its back- a very stri- ct rnarks of le described most promi- auce to the ws, but also ifieen wide, There are, |ks, polished )us contrast |out in every 'he develop- remarkable lenomena — ■ ind broken. ;ks, which loothed and exp«sed to li destroyed; ;ive beaut/'. )or an accu- led there by jrees, which lyale affords if the strice. luiuii'.ig due Irtheaat and led further, tik,"^^. ^y 201 Fife. 45. that all the striiffc, although very distinct, were limited to a narrow space, not exceedirig two feet above tie surface of the water, aiid not reaching more than 1^ feet below, whilst ihe hdrreii ledges above, althoqgh rounded and smoothed, did not show any dis- tinct striae or furroWs. I A this case we may w^ell be induced to ascribe their origin to thie action of the ice driven by the wind on the shore, and rubbing against the rocks— some- times in one direction, sometimes in another. See figure 45. '!!!.( .Tift jrS'tt.,.,ixr The question may be asked, how it happens that, being situated in the middle of the drift region, l!§le Royale afibrds so kw traces of it? I will not conceal that this is a difficulty, since, although the island is very hilly, y^t the ridges nowhere exceed six hundred feet — a height at which drift sand and even drift clay are found almost everywhere on the main land. We must either suppose that there has never been any drift on the island, or else th^t it once existed and has been afterwards removed . The first supposition would seem the most natural, were it not for the few erratic boulders which are scattered bVer the ridges, and which in this case would have been the only materials that the drift agency dropped. Now, it is difficult to conceive how boulders should be isolated iti this single place, whilst they are everywhere else connected. Is it not reasonable to sup- pose that the island has undergone a general denudation, whereby all the loose materials have been sWept away, with the exception of a few boul- ders which remain as witnesses of the glacial agencies? At any rate, we ought to remetiiber that this is not the only spot where such absence of drift occurs. The extremity of Keweenaw Point, as we have previously shown, is likewise barren of drift deposites; and here, at least, the sup- position of a subsequent denudation seems to be beyond all doubt. Drift deposites east of Keweenaw Point. — The shor6 of Lake Superior ^ast bf Keweenaw Point may be divided, as far as the drift is concerned, into three distinct regions, in each of which it assumes a peculiar character, and is connected with, or dependent upon, the orographicat structure of the countfy. These regions are — 1st. The granite and iron region, extending from the Anse to the. mouth of Chocolate -rfver. 2d. The sandstone n^gion, extending from Chocolate river to Grand Sable, and including the beautiful cliffs of the Pictured Rocks. 3d. The sand region, extending from Grand Sable to the Saut, where no otlfer than quarternary formations are to be seen. Drift of the granite and iron region. — The granite region near the Anse, and the adjoining iron region back of Carp river, are both distin- guished by their hilly character, being composed of a succession of ridges running from JNE. to SW.,and rising to higher and higher levels towards the anticlinal axis. The projecting spits and promontories are generally des- titute of drift deposites, but the intervening bays are lined either by 'a drift terrace orby siliingle beaches of alluvial matei-ials. That portioii of the lake- shore between Granite Point and Chocolate river i^^ particularly interesting. For a long distance, especially in the vicinity of Carp river, it is lined by El rather low terrace of drift, rising from twelve to eighteen feet above the m Doc. No. 69^ water and composed of sand and gravel, sometimes distinctly stratified, with Specimens of cross-stratification, and sometimes containing a great many large pebbles and boulders, so as to resemble coarse drift. In some places to the west of Carp river, near Worcester, the red clay is also to be seen cropping out from the base of the trrrace, where its presence is usuallv accompanied by numerous springs. In the rear of the first ter- race, there is found another much higher, rising from fifty to one hundred .and fifty feet above the level of the lake. The latter is sometimes close by the lower terrace, and sometimes it is separated from it by a space more or less remote. ' The figures 46, 47, and 48 will show the relative position of the two terraces at three differ- ent points, between Worcester and the mouth of Carp river, within the distance of a mile. As to its structure, the upper terrace seems to be composed altogether of sand finer than that of the lower terrace, and with fewer pebbles and bould- ers interspersed through it. If we now ascend the upper ter- race, in order to explore the country inland, along one of the section lines, ^e find the following features. The top of the terrace is a plateau, covered . generally with fine forests, without much undergrowth— the predominating trees being maples, interspersed with large hemlocks, \lrhite pines, ana sometimes birches and aspens. This plateau, which would no doubt aflford an eJo-ellent soil for agriculture, rises with a slight slope towaids the south, till we reach the first of the rocky ridges Vunniiig Irom NE. to SW. where the drift thins out; the summit of the ridge itself being gene- rally destitute of it, while boulders and furrows are of frequent occurrence. This, however, js not the limit of the drift to the south, for it appears again beyond the ridge, where it forms either another plateaux, if the next *ridge is at some distance, or fills up merely a valley^ if the two ridges are close to each other. A succession of rocky hills and drift plateaus er valleys are thus to be traced almost to the highest elevation of the country — near the dividing ridge, each following plateau or valley being commonly at a higher level than the preceding. In many places, the drift has been greatly washed off, and it is not un- usual to find the margin of the upper terraces scoojied out in deep gullies, which are oftentimes to be traced for a great distance along the smallest rivulets. These gullies are very striking in the vicinity of the mouth of Carp river, where they reminded me of similar ones in the detrital de- positee of Switzerland, which go by the name of ''tiants sauvages.^' They afford sometimes an excellent opportunity to investigate the nature of the drift. By far the greater portion of the drift deposite here, as well as along ihe shore, is composed of sand. There may be seen, however, in several localities, distinct traces of clay — as, for instance, near Teal stratified, ng a great . In some also to be •resence is 5 first ter- le hundred imes close ;J)ace more 7, and 48 I position of hree differ- Worcester Javp river, of a mile. , the upper I composed finer than errace, and and bould- mgh it. If upper ter- 3xplore the ong one of ve find the The top of au, covered . dominating pines, and 1 no doubt pe towards rom NE. to )eing gene- )ccurrence. r it appears if the next ridges are )lateaus er country — commonly is not un- ^ep gullies, \e smallest mouth of letrital de- Ithe nature |re, as well however, [near Teal Doc. No. 69. 205 lake. Boulders are found scattered over the whole surface of the drift de- posites, as well as on the ridges deprived of it. Some granite boulders have been observed by Mr. Hill even on the summit of Silver mountain, fourteen miles southwest of L'Anse, at the height of one thousand feet above the lake. Similar ones were noticed by Mr. Whitney and myself, inland from Uarp river, at a height of 900 feet. There may also be seen, on the drift terraces of this region, indications of narrow ridges, composed of gravel and pebbles, similar to the oesars which occur along the coast of Sweden. One striking instance of such cosars, or ridges, may be seen on the road leading from the Jackson landing to Teal lake, a few miles from the shore. There can be but little doubt that, if the country was cleared of woods, such ridges would be noticed in many other places, for they seem to accompany the drift wherever it occurs in extensive tracts. The color of the drift (of the sand as well as of the clay) is that same reddish-yellow which prevails west of Keweenaw Point, over the whole of the copper region. There, it seems natural that it should have this color ,'for it rests almost everywhere on red sandstone, from which it is supposed to have been derived. Here, in the iron region, on the con- trary, where the prevailing rocks are black slate, dark greenstone, and ridges of iron ore, it is evident .that the drift cannoi o\ve its origin to the decomposition of these rocks, for, in that case, it would necessarily be black, or at least very dark-colored. There is no other rock to which it can be referred; but, since sandstone occurs here in the immediate vicinity of the lake shore, the presence of red drift to the south affords additional evidence that not only the boulders, but the drift sand and clay, have been transported from north to south. Polished and groov-d surfaces of the granite and iron region. — With the exception of Isle Royale, the phenomenon of the polished and grooved siiifaces is nowhere more frequent and striking than in the granite and iron regions. It is met with along the shore wherever a rocky spit pro- jects into the lake, and in the interior wherever a ridge rises above the common level of the drift plateau, orVhere the drift has been removed. This frequency is owing to the fact that most of the rocks of that region, and especially those which occupy a prominent position, are very hard, and, tnerefore, have preserved most of the marks which have been stamped upon them by the so called erratic agencies. Indeed the rocks are not only smoothed and polished in most places where they appear at the surface, but also distinctly grooved and scratched. Along the coast, east of the Anse, scratches, furrows, and grooves may be seen in several localities. According to Messrs. Foster tfc Whitney, all the ledges of granite and hornblende between Granite Point and Dead river are distincdy smoothed aiid scratched. An island im|^iediately east of Dead river is especially remarkable in this respect. The rock, which is very hard and tough hornblende, is not only grooved and furrowed ov-er its whole extent, but there are, besides, deep, trough-like depressions, with perfectly smoothed walls, some twelve to tilt'.jn feet long, four feet wide, and two and a half deep. Mr. Foster observed there two systems of stria3 — one running north and south, and the other north 20° east' and south 20° west, the latter system being the deepest and most distinct. Similar trougiis were observed by Mr. Foster on Middle island, east of Granite Point. Here, too, may be seen troughs four feet wide and two feet deep, running,'like the stricc, north 20° east. r m Poc. No. 69. m The localities, however, where I found the striae the most distiact, are the promontories and islands near Worcester, two miles west of the mouth of Carp river. The rocks are a very tough hornhlende and chlorite slate, which seem well fitted to preserve even the finest lines. There may be seen, near the mouth of a rivulet, several ledges whose northern slope is covered with striae as distinct a? if th^y hfid wen engrayeid but yestei Indeed, with the exception of some localities on (he btack limestone in the Vinoasky valley, Vermont, and some others on the slates in the fiord of Christania, (Norway,) I do not remember having ever seen glacial striae so distinct. The figure 49 represents a ledge with a slope of from 10° to 20° at the water's edge, where they are the most conspicuous. — There are two distinct sets of striae: those running north 55° east are the most numerous; those runriing north 5° east the least. The latter are dis- tinctly feeen crossing the others, and are, therefore, more recent. Some of them are, besides, distinctly curved, as if the body which produced them had been deflecte.d in ascending the slope — a peculiarity not yet observed elsewhere. Both sets of striae etxtend here but a lifile way below the water — generally not' deeper than one foot. This is the. most eastern point where stria? occur along the shore, and, therefore, the first which conies under the observation ot geologists, when coasting west. 'I he striae and furrows are not l^ss con- spicuous in the interior of tho country, and may be traced at all heights, and on all kind of rocks, in the neighborhood. I found them iSQO feet high oh the summit of the quartz ridge in the immediate vicinity of Carp river; 7.50 feet on the iron riclge south of Teal lake; and ap.high as 1,000 feet on a greenstone ridge ijear the water-shed. ' Among the most remarkable are the striae on the quartz, if we consider the very great hardness of the rock; and, indeed, with the exception of some quartz veins among the granite of the Alps, I know of no other localities where the striae may be traced for any considerable extent on this rock. The surfaces of these quartz hills are in some places so smooth as to glitter like mirrors in the sun, anii may thus be seen from far. The rock is too hard to allow deep furrows; thegroovings are, therefore, merely veiy fine stria?, but of tuch distinctness that one would think ihem to have been engraved by the poit»t of a diamond. Their direction on the nearest quartz ridge is, accordhig to Mr. Whitney, north 20° east; but on the second ridge (at a height of»53l feet) I found their direction to vary between 25° and 30°. No geologist can look at striae on such-arock without being convinced that the action of the water is utterly insuf- ficient to produce such effects.' The same inference may be drawn from th6 polish and striae at the top and along the sides of a very remarkable knob '' of conglomerate-quartz in township 27, range 25. Notwithstanding the variable hardn,ess of the pebbles of which this conglomerate is composed, the striae on it may be traced in an iminterrupted nianner sometimes for a distance of several feet, passing successively over a pebble of granite, of hornblende, of slate, of greenstone, and of iron ore. Their average direction i' Doc. No. 90. ?0I istioct, are the mouth orite slate, ;re may be hero slope but yestet mestone in in the fiord eeii glacial of from 10° Ige, where ipicuous. — Its of striae: ea8tare the iriing north tter are dis- Qthers, and it. Some of 5tly curved, duced them cending the ts of striae deeper than ir along the servatiort ot ot l^ss con- all heights, them i5Qp ate vicinity ,nd as high |we consider ixception of of no other |tent on this so smooth |i frorn far. , therefore, i^ould think ir direction ;h20° east; direction to Isucharock terly insuf- rawn from kable knob fanding the composed, limes for a granite, of ;e direction IS north, varying from 50° to 60° east. Striae are also to be seen on the iron ridges, sometimes on almost pure iron ore— as, for instance, on a ridge along the road leading to the Jackson location, two miles souih of Teal lake. , Their direction, as far as we could ascertain without a compass, (which is of course unreliable here,) is north 50° or 60° east. Finally, I would make mention of a green magnesian rock, with vertical walls, to the east, along the road leading from the Jackson landing to Teal lake. The walls, although almost semi cylindrical, are covered with strite, which may be traced al ng the surface, like hoops around a gigantic cask. This is an important instance, since it goes to show that ihe striae could not possibly have been made by an iceberg, or a;ny other Body floating in the water, but that the agency must have been such as to conform to the direction of the rocky wall. As a whole, the direction of the striae in the several localities where they have been ob- : served within the granite and iron region are as 'follows: ,' : '■' ■ ' ' ' ■ ' ' ■■ ^"\ .ii--i- ! (IB direction. N.20°E. N. 20'' E. N. 55^ E. Secondefy .({irectto|^. n; s. N. 5° E. N. 20°E. " . ' ' ' "' ■■ N. 50O 60° E. N. 55° E. , N. 65° E. ,.:.■ t :...,:■ ■ On Middle island, east of Granite Point - On an island, east of Dead river - At Worcester . . . - On the first quartz ridge, one mile from the " mouth of Carp river . - - On the quartzose conglonaerate knob, town- ship 47, range 25 - - - On the Iron ridge south of Teal lake At the Jackson Ibrge . - - Although there is considerable variation in the direction of the striae and furrows, yet we cannot fail to notice that they all run ea.*(t of north, ■wrhilst we have thus far seen none running west of north. The direc- tion northeast and southwest seems to be the prevailing one, especially on the ridges in the interior. It is also, as we have seen, the prevailing one on Islq Royale. Along the shore the direction seems somewhat more northerly, (N. 20° 25° east,) corresponding to that observed on Kewee- naw Point. Finally, where two sets are seen crossing each other — as, for instance at Middle island — the northerly direction has thus far proved to be the more recent one. Drift of the sandstone region east of Keweenaw Puint. — The sandstone region east of Keweenaw Point .extends fi"orn the mouth of Chocolate river to Grand Sable — more than sixty miles — including the high range of the Pictured Rocks. * From Chocolate river to Traine river, for a distance of twenty five miles, the shore is bordered with low, alluvial deposites, with pebbly beaches and hillocks of blown sand. Three small rivers empty into the lake along nver, this coast, pearly at equal distances from each other, viz: Fish Laughing-Fish river, (Riviere du poisson qui rit.) and Pebble river, (Riv- iere aux galets.) 'I'he rock in place is exposed to view only on a few pro- montories; but the land rises considerably in the rear, and there is every ijQ Doc. No. 69. probability that, in following up any of these rivers, the drift may be en* countered at no great distance. , .'b*, .1 After having passed Pebble river, the sandstone intfrsects the shore, forming rather low bluffs, covered with a depsite of drift-loam from five to ten leet thick. Then the ground rises suddenly to the height of nearly One hundred feet. We noticed that its slope was covered with a strange raixtuie of detrital materials, composed of huge angular fragments of sandstone and of rounded granite boulders, giving it the appearance of a vast accumulation of very coarse drift. Having landed tnere, I soon noticed regular sandstone strata beneath the detrital covering, and satisfied myself that this strange mixture was owing to the disintegration of a soft layer of sandstone near the top of the cliff, w.hich, in scaling off, had caused the layer above to crumble down, together with tho» deposite of drift which caps the summit. The drift at the top of the cliff attains here a thickness of twenty-five feet, and is remarkable for the quantity of large boulders which it contains. Beyond this p<^int, the sandstone disappears again from the shore, and the coast is lined for some distance with a drift terrace from fifteen to eighteen feet in height, in every respect similar to that which we have described near Carp river. Traine* bay, which follows next, is lined with shingle beaches and dunes. Having ascended Traine river, which empties into this bay, we reached the drift terrace, after having threaded the innumerable wind- ings of its channel, through a low and swampy plain, at a distarice of only a tew miles from the coast. The terrace averages from twelve to fifteen feet in height, and is com- posed of a reddish sand, with many pebbles scattered through it The same drift-sand, although less loamy, prevails also arpund Traine lake, some five or six miles inland, above the mouth of the river. Beyond Traine bay, begins the range of the Pictured Rocks, the most* romantic portion of the southern shore, extending some ten miles from Grand island eastward. Though highly attractive on account of its scenery, this region is less important in reference to the drift, which plays here but a very subordinate part. However, .there is seen at the top of the high, towering bluffs a stratum of loose materials from ten to thirty feet in thick- ness, composed of pebbles and boulders, intermixed with loam and sand. I consider this deposite, like that formerly described as occurring on the summit of the Red Castles, as belonging to the coarse drift. The most striking feature is derived from its structure, being composed almost ex- clusively of fragments detached from the sandstone ledges beneath. * Although imbedded in a kind of loam, the fragments are but little worn, whereby they differ essei^tially fiom the boulders and pebbles im- bedded in the drift clay. After a careful^ examination of the materials in several localities, I found but few foreign pebbles among them, chjefly fragments of trap. • There are some few places, however, where a stratum of drift-sand may be seen covering the coarse drift. Such an instance occurs at the top of the Grand Portal. It was at first doubtful whether this stratum, which is very homogeneous, had not, perhaps, originated from blown^sand from below ; but, on closer examination, I found that it contained a certain num- ber of rounded pebbles, which rendered such a supposition inadmissible. * TVoine is an antiquated French word, still in use an.o ig the Cantxiliun French, for tiaimau, a eleigh. We heard from one of our voyngeurs that there had been, for a long limr, nn old tlcigh uiSr the mou^of the river: hence probably its name. u m Doc. No. 69. f09 xy be en* he shore, from five of nearly a strange ;ments of ance of a 5, I soon i satisfied ition of a » off, had k deposite iff attains ! quantity sandstone le distance in every aches and 1 this bay, able wind- ice of only nd is com- [i it The aine lake, the most' (liles from scenery, here but the high, in thick- and sand, ig on the he most most ex- ath. but little bbles im- perials in chjefly and may the top of 11, which nd from lain num- [missible. ror It aineau, tn old sleigh The average thickness of this sand stratum, at the top of the Pictured Rocks, does not exceed ten feet, although it is in some places as thick a» thirty feet, Along the whole range of the Pictured Rocks, there are but two locali* ties where the high wall is interrupted Ob as to afforct a safe landing-place, viz: at Miaer^s river and at Chapel river, near the Grand Portal. The first of these two rivers empties into the lake near a most picturesque pno- monlory, which Mr. Whitney calls Miner's Castle. To the east of this promontory extends, for the distance of nearly a mile, an alluvial plain, covered with ancient beaches. The drift appears at the surface, but there is little doubt that it may be found along the banks of the river. A con- siderable layer of drift occurs on the top of Miner's Casde, composed of a whitish clay filled with pebbles and fragments of the underlying rock. At Chapel river, the high cliff is interrupted for the space of half a mile, where the coast is lined by a drift terrace some thirty feet in height, being the border of a plateau stretching for several miles inland, and covered with pine openings. There, I had a fine opportunity of examining the relation of the drift to the surrounding cliffs. At the western corner of the opening, the different sandstone strata are abruptly broken, some- times stair like «nd soinettmes with bold projections. There, I saw drift not only cover- ing^he lower steps of this gi- gantic stair-case, but filling, likewise, the space between the ^- projections, as shown by the following diagram. It is obvi- ous from this fact that the clii& of the Pictured Rocks had alrea* dy, at the time of thedepoeitisn of the drift, the same irreg'*lar and broken outlines which ren- i. g. drift-gravel, s. sar.d8lon«. der them SO COnspiouoUS MOW. It is well known that th« top of the Pictured Rocks is not a mountain nor a ridge, but merely the margin of a sandstone plateau, which rises here abruptly to the height of nearly 200 feet. Having ascended the cliff,^ near Miner's river, Ave found the plateau almost level ; yet, most of the rivulets, instead of emptying into the lake, run southward, s& that the water-shed is here near the very margin •f the cliff. Although the sur- face of the plateau is thickly wooded and partly covered with swamps even at its highest levels, yet wherever the soil is removed, we found the underlying rock to consist of sandstone, and it soon became evident to me that the drift plays but a very subordinate part, being confiined merely to sogie scattered boulders and pebbles. No glacial furrows and groovings have been observed withia this district, which is not to be wondered at, if we consider the nature of the prevail- ing rock, being soft, and easily decomposable sandstone. DRttT: OP THE SAND REGION. This region, the most important as iar as the drift is concerned, begins where the cliffs of the Pictured Rocks, after having sunk within a few feet 1 itl id ! 1 210 Doc. No. 69^ of the water's edge, are sufldenly replaced by a hlgfi ridge of lose mnte- riaid, ( Jled the Grand Sable. From thence, along the whole length of the '•wast, to the S.njt, a distance of nearly one hundred miles, there is no "T formation ffrnn drift and alluvial deposites to be seen. The latter is ih ,//n«t prominent; bui wherever the drift comes close to the shore, it is generally in the form of hit'' terraces, with abrupt slopes^ exceeding even the highest points of the I'lctiiredKocks — e. g., at GrainJ Hableand Point Iroquois The Cir" "1 Sable, from its peculiar and vcrv striking apy^nnce, de- serves a more accuratr 'lescriptirfn. The traveller, in coasting along the beautiful and thickly- uooded cliffs of the Pictured Rocks towanls the Sant, after having seen the clifls of sandstone gradually descend within a few feet of the water, is suddenly struck by the appearance of a high, naked wall rising immediately from the lake, and extending for many mi' ^ in an easterly direction. (See diagram 62.) The contrast afforded by such a barren tract in the midst of th-! ii-nf*^ forests which extend all around is in itaelf most remarkable — tl .; nioio bt as it seems, at first, to be nothing but a gigantic heap of I jose Mil. In- deed, since Schoolcraft first described it as a dune, it has ^ .. ..ily been thus represented by all subsequent writers. Besides, the fact that the. cliffs of the Pictured Rocks to the west of Grand Sable are of a very loos© and easily decomposable sandstone, seemed to jusiiiy the idea that this high sandridge might be nothing but the detritus of decomposed sand- stone strata, heaped up by the power of the northwest winds, which are known to be the prevalent ones on the lake. But yet, it seemed difficult to conceive that sand should accumulate to the height of 366 feet in that single spot, whilst at other places along the shore — for example, at White Fish Point — the dunes should not reach higher than from forty to fifty feet, though the wind's are equally violent. Even along the seacoast, under the influence oi" tlie oceanic gales, the dunes do not attain so great a height; for liiose of Prov'iacctuwii,uii Cape Cod, which are ceilainiy ihe most remarkable on this side of the Atlantic, do not exceed eighty feet. Having landed on the promontory at the entrance of the bay, bordered by the high, barren ridge, in order to investigate the subject more closely, we soon discovered along the partially naked cliffs a distinctly marked line, (a,) which was found to be the upper limit of the red clay. (See figure 52.) Above this clay was a mass of sand with in- dications of horizontal stratification, which, from its appearance as \^ell as from its position, we recognised as the * if' 'aovi. r Takir)g this fr.cr ■;• ■ ndard, ' jllowed the clifl'towardt 'i o . "^i '.i- some distance. and Avera able to recognise all along, the samffrela- tive jiosition between the clay and san-i. Thus, wc asccrtamed that the dune- like appearance is -^ owing merely to an external covering of loose sand, and that the main body of the ridge is made up of drift sand and clay, the latter ap- . , ■vfi-.:.ry'v*^'^,., •>r. pearing at the surface in some spots, which are lil, m^^^S^Kf Hl^safl. '"dicated by occasional clumps of dwarfish trees. The Messrs. Whitney, having ascended to the top of the sand ridge in order to measure it5 Fig 52. v. O. — Urilt C'ay. D. e Drift sand. ISO mnte- rth of the icre is no c latter is lorR, it is ing even md Point v.w-c, de- along iho ovanls the I within a f a high, lany mi'jv. th<; d"n»fl J moio s>». Mvl. In- iUily been t that the, very loose I that this nsed sand- which are 3d dilFicult 66 feet in xample, at im forty to I seacoast, n so great iiuiuiy ihe tighty feet, bordered jre closely, ly marked ay. (See with in- lich, from Isition, we jUowed lance, and ^amf rela- Thus, sarance is of loose ridge is latter ap- rhich are ish trees, hd to the tasure its t)oc. No. 69. 211 height, fJnind our ^suspicion entirely confirmed, for they discnvrrfid at the very top, layers luid tno-'ses of coarse pobbles resting ujKin tlie saiui, and scattered through it. These, of course, rould not have been blown up from Mow. They found the surfHro of the ri(l?e very irregular, with dee[> hollows, and pr«- senting to the :-. th a steep s;l(>pp, similar to that facintr the lake, and equally barren, but less high, being only fi^'Y '^r sixty feet Bey(»nH. the surface of the plateau wa? again covered with froo8. The question wi I be asked, therefore, how it happened that a mere ridge shnuH be so h ren, whilst along the shore the drift is covered with d^^nsf forests. The cause of this peculiar feature lies, no doubt, in the fii' t that the drift is hme very loose and destitute of any loamy substance, i/ by any caut-o (wind* falls or heavy rains) the vegetation be carried away, thu sand remains ox- posed to the wind, and, being very fine and dry, it is gradually blown oil and scattered over the surrounding country. Uf this we have direct proof in the isoL.ted hillocks covered with trees which indicate the former U«vel of the plateau. These will probably after a while also yield to the po\ ';r of the elements. Meanwhile, they give us the measure of the amount of the materials which have been already taken off from the summit and scat- tered over the surrounding country. There may be seen in many places along the si pes of the sand ridge of Grand Sable piirallel lines — sometimes horizontal, omotirnes bent and un- dulated — which might at first be mistaken for lines >f stratification. I am rather inclined, however, to consider them as ind -ations of successive fallings of the sand coatings, which would take pla< ' when the slope bo- comes too great, as it hapf)ens with the snow on tlu steep slopes of the Alps. Another similarity between these sand slopes and the snow covered walls of the high mountains, may be found in a peculi r tinted appearance resulting'from the falling off of small particles in the sauje direction. Finally, there may be seen at the top of the long ridte of Grand Sable, towards the eastern extremity, some irregular hilluoks, nore oi' Ictis an- gular, which have all the appearance of genuine diiftes, and which in all probability were heaped up in the same way. Between them and the tnie dunes there is only this difference, that the sand is derived from a higher spot, instead of a lower one. Between the eastern extremity of Grand Sable and Two hearted river, a distance of nearly thirty miles, the lake shore offers but li tie of interest, being composed entirely of alluvium, covered and capped i many places with dunes. The drift terrace appears nowhere on the co: t, but is gen- erally seen lining tlie horizon at some distance. At Two 1 ;arted river it approaches the shore within less than a mile, and is compose 1 of the same red sand as further west. It rises.here to the heiglit of fifty i-iet. At a distance of six miles east of Two-hearted river, ant ther smaller river empties into the lake, known as Carp river, but, to avoid <.onfusion, it has been designated on the map as Terrace river. There, the drift again approaches the shore, forming a succc. jion of tc^r- races, which deserve a special attention, as being the most striki. g instance of tf\is peculiar structure along the south shore of Lake Superi. r. There are, in some places, not less than six successive terraces, which, when close to each other and combined with the beaches, appear from the lake, like a gigantic stair-case leading to the drift plateau above, rising to the average height of nearly one hundred feet — a heiglit corresponding m l\^ Doc. No. 60. iC to that of the upper terrace of Carp river, as described above. Mr. Whit- ney, who measured the relative height and position of the terraces at a place two miles east of Two-hearted river, found the following succession: Height, 1 . Gravel beaph . . - • . . 5 f^gj ^ 2. Sand beach - - - - . - 12 * 3. First drift terrace . . . , . 29 4. Second drift terrace ... - 46 5. Third drift tenace - - - - . 75 6. Summit of plateau - - . . - 94 The position of these difl'erent terraces, as well as their relation to each other, is represented in natural proportions in the diagram fig. 53. It will be seen that, although the distances of the four upper terraces are variable, yet their slopes are rather uni form , being on an average 30°. iThe slopes "'of the two lower terraces " are, on the contrary, much «less, being from 10° to 12° — a circumstance inti- mately connected with their origin, for they are true beaches, having been actually built up by the action of the waves, whilst the dpper ones indicate merely the denudating action which the drift un- derwent — the crumbling down of the sand under the influence of the waves, when the relative level of the lake and the shore was different from what it is at present. The several terraces thus indicate, in all probability, as many periods of subsidence. Since the steepness of a slope depends chiefly upon the nature of the materials of which it is composed, it is to be expected that like materials will present a uniformity of slope; and thus it is that the slopes of all drift terraces are so constant. This constancy fiirhishes in itself a striking feature of the drift terraces, by which they are easily distinguished from mere beaches. The surface of the terraces is nc' always level, but undulating, and covered with ridges, as it appears from the above section. Some of these ridges — for instance, that marked 0, in the section — are probably ancient beaches. Indeed it is easily conceivable that, if the coast of Lake Superior were to be raised some thirty or forty feet, the two alluvial terraces, which are now close to the water^ would appear in the same manner upon the new terrace, whose slope would soon be the same as that of the upper ones. Beyond Terrace river, the drift terraces recede suddenly from the shore, and are not again seen until after having turned White-Fish Point, we reach the bottom of Tequamenen bay. Thus, the whole country in the vicinity of White-Fish Point, comprising an area of nearly two hundred Gnimro mi I no QTiri Av^ fir x^i VA .1. \./U IA«^»A1.AVAJV/AA A 4 T \^X « nothing but a low, alluvial and marshy plain, which owes its origin to the action of the prevailing winds and currents. (( It (I Mr. Whit- races at a iccession: Height. 5fbet, 12 «< 29 " 46 75 94 on to each 53. seen that, istances of terraces are leir slopes tn,beingon The slopes rer terraces lary, much m 10° to stance inti- jd with their y are true ives, whilst he drift un- mce of the as different y periods of f upon the pected that that the fltfhishes y are efeisily lis .ating, and me of these bly ancient perioT were ces, which )on the new per ones, the shore, Point, we ntry in the o hundred in river, is rigin to the Doc. No. 69. 21S Point Iroquois is, as we have stated before, a high ridge rising imme- diately from the water, and, in all probability, composed exclusively bf drift materials. From thence, the drift terrace is seen skirting the shore along Waiska's bay as far as the Saut, where the Potsdam sandstone appears agani below the drift deposites. There are, besides, in Tequamenen bay, several islands, which seem to be composed'entirelyof drift, con taitiing a great many rounded boulders and p^b^bles, from which have beien derived Sie stones used in the construction of the light-house at White-Pish Point. Iroquois island, opposite the point of the same nanle, is made up of like materials. Here I noticed that a great proportion of the boulders and pebbles were of sandstone, which leads me to believe that this rock must be in place somewhere in the neighborhood. Dnft deposites cdong- the St. Man/s river. — The sam6 drift terrace which we havie described as skirting the southern shore of Lake Superior is hiere seem. At the Saut, it attains a height of nearly 100 feet, and is separated from the river by a level and swampy plain, destitute of any det- rital materials except boulders, which repOBe on the sandstone. The ter- race can be traced eastward — sometimes in the form of a regular plateau, flhd sometimes in that of irregular ridges — until lost sight of beyond the Neebish rapids. A corresponding one is observed on the British' side, but of more limited extent, separated from the river by a similar plain, and bounded on the other hand by a chain of elevated hills. The phenoinena of the glacial furrows are very marked in many places along the St. Mary's river. In the vicinity of the Neebish, the rocks are smooth and rounded, as though polished artificially, and glitter in the sun like the finest polished surfaces of the Alps. The general direction of the grooves is N. and S., and the rocks exhibit a lea and strike side. Along the Straits of Mackinac the drift is rarely seen; but on the higher points of land, limited patches are observed. Its position on the island of Mackinac is particularly interesting, where it is restricted to the summit, forming a stratum 100 feet thick. Accustomed to observe the drift occupying only the lowest depressions, its position here at Once arrests the attention. The following diagram illustrates its relation to the older rocks and to the alluvial terraces: Pig. 54. Like the drift at the Saut, it consists of loamy sand, with- j^ out any distinct sUratification, ^„ ,^ _^^^ ■ intermixed in places with con- '^i^^^^^^^^-^ckA siderable clay. ZZl "!^?N Coming from the lower lakes 1 "^^^~. UrT.!^^ for the first time, where the clays are buff and blue, the geologist is in doubt as to the a. Alluvial. d. Drift. I. Limestone. real position of thcse patches; but, after having visited Lake Superior and examined the drift accumula- tions, he has no doubt whatever. To Mr. Whittlesey belongs the credit of having first suggested the identity of the two deposites. As this clay is traced southerly along the shores of Lal^e Michigan, it is found gradually passing into the blue clay of the west. Thus, the island of Mackinac, with Its sununits covered with drift, constitutes a most important link in the chain of evidence to identify remote deposites, as belonging to a common J. m Doc. No. 6^ epoch. We are thus enabled to connect the drift deposifes of Lake Superior with those wliich form the plateaux of Wisconsin and Illinois. . The boulders on tlie island, which are numerous, rest upon, or are imbedded in, the drift. From their external characters, it is inferred that they were derived from the northerp shore of Lake Superior. We can account for the peculiar position of the drift here, and its ab- sence on Round island and Bois Blanc, only by supposing that it has been removed by denudation. The topographical engineers inform me that it is to be found on the high ground in the vicinity of Point St. Ignace. Hence, we infer that at one time it was spread over the entire area, and that a general denu- dation has taken place to the height of nearly 200 feet. This denudating process, however, did not limit itself to the removal of tlie drift materials. The island affords evident proofs that the more ancient rocks have not escaped. That curious and picturesque rock known as the Sugar Loaf, which rises like a pyramid, to the height of ninety feet, from the surroundii)^ plain, remains a monument of the ancient water-level. There can be no doubt that this denudation is to be ascribed to power- ful currents of water, at a time when the general level of the country was different from what we now behold it. That these currents were long-continued, is proved by the many alluvial terraces which encompass the island, of which we shall treat hereafter. No glacial furrows have been observed on the island, or along the straitsj but there is little doubt that such markings might be traced on the rocks, if the superficial mate- rials were removed. The soft porous limestone which here prevails, is ill adapted to retain such markings for any great length of time, when ex- posed to the influence of atmospheric agencies. , CONCLUSION. • ' . J ^ It is not intended Iiere to give a general theory of the causes and origin of the drift, since it would oblige us to allude to many phenomena for- eign to the district under consideration, and to discuss the many systems which have been proposed by various authors to solve this great problem. I shall, therefore, limit myself, for the time, to a brief sketch of the prin- cipal periods which may be recognised among the drift deposites of Lake Superior. A mere glance at the relative position and structure of the drift deposites, as described in the foregoing pages, will suffice to prove that the phenomena neither indicate a paroxysmal agenoy, nor the operalion of a single cause, however long continued. They disclose a long series of events, which have resulted fVom causes highly diversified, and as yet but imperfectly known. W^e recognise the following periods in the history of the drift of Lake Superior: 1. The period of the grooving and polishing of the rocks must be con- sidered as the dawning of the drift epoch. At the close of the tertiary era, (which has left traces of its presence over many of the States border- ing on the Atlantic, as far north as the island of Martha's Vineyard, in Massachusetts,) the whole northern portion of the continent was subject- ed to the operalion of a general and most powerful agency, of which there is no precedent in the history of former geological ages. There may Poi, Nt). 69. 215 es of Lake 1 Illiaois. pon, or are nferred that and its ab- that it has und on th» e infer that neral denu- ;he removal It the more resque rock tie height of r the ancieni 3d to power- the country irrents were 1 encompass irrows have little doubt rficial mate- I prevails, is e, when ex- ^s and origin lomena for- my systems jat problem. I of the prin- tes of Lake of the drift prove that tperalion of [ng series of ~ as yet but history of lust be con- the tertiary iites border- jneyard, in |as subject- of which iThere may be found in every sedimentary formation, depositea similaf in their compo- sition to those of the drift, but the rocks on which they rest are nowhere characterized by those peculiar markings which we have described as gla- cial furrows and striie. In the region of Lake Superior, they are found at all levels— over plains, and on the slopes of the hills and mountains. Even the dividing ridge between the upper peninsula and Wisconsin exhibits traces of their action. It is proved that here, as well as in Europe, their main direction has been from north to south — being, however, sometimesde- flected either to the east or to the west. These deflections are, no doubt, de- pendent upon the leading physical features of the coimtry . Along the south shore of Lake Superior we have found them running mostly from north- east to northwest, a direction parallel with that of the principal ridges— as, for instance, those of Isle Royale and Keweenaw Point. These coinci- derices would be still further strengthened, if it could be ascertained by a series of soundings across the lake, that the main troughs ran in the same direction. We know, in the actual operations of nature, of no agent capable of producing such a gigantic resuk as the shaving and smoothing of a whole continent. To those who are familiar with the effects produced by glaciers upon the walls and bottoms of the valleys through which they move, it cannot be denied that they exhibit the closest analogy to the phenomena which we have been describing. The appearance of the rocks, as well as the form and size of the striae, is the same; yet it must be remembered that, in our days, glaciers occur chiefly in the valleys of the highest mountain chains. It is, therefore, difficult to conceive how they could exist and move in a wide and level country, like the northern parts of the United States and Canada. In order to avoid this difliculty, It has been assumed that the whole northern hemisphere, as far as erratic phenomena ntaoh, was once covered with a general cap of ice, similar to tliat of the circum polar region, which, in its southerly progression, is sup- posed to have at once smooihed the rocks and transported the boulders from north to south.* A careful examination ofthepositionofthe boulders, which 1 have found, both in this country and northern Europe resting mostly on stratified deposites of sand or clay, has convinced me that the above as- sumption is no longer admissible, so far as it relates to the transportation of the boulders. The remaining question relates to the grooving and polishing of the surface rocks. However inclined I may be, from personal observatwn of the glacial phenomena both in the Alps and Scandinavia, to refer the grooviugs to this agency, according to M. de Charpentier's theory, (which is also advocated by M. Agassiz,) I shall refrain from enter- ing into any discussion of the subject, for the reason that the laws which regulate the motion of the polar ice are as yet too little known to be made the basis of geological speculation in a report like this, the object of which is to state facts and give particular information. Whatever may have been the cause of the grooviugs, it must be admitted that an agency which was capable of shaving off and wearing down such an extent of surface must also have been able to remove the detritus and to transport it from one place to another. I am inclined, therefore, to ascribe to this agency, and to consider as contemporaneous with it, that portion of drift materials which •As to the (iitTieiilsy iirisiiig from the ciiaiate, I would remurk tliat it has been most ingeniously ahown, in a recent paper by M. L^icrg, that if pi)lar glaciers have ever existed in these lati- tudes, it was possible only with a higher temperature. J,f i, W' 11' : ^1 916 0be. No. 69, I have described as coarse drift, and which, Tdierever it estists, is regu- laTly found at t^e hase of the stratified deposites, having been left unais< turbed by the waters of the subsequent period. 2. We have shown that almost everywhere along the southern shore of Lake Superior there is a stratum of red clay resting on the coarse drift, or, where this is removed, on the polisherd rocks. Fropi its thickness and the comminuted state of the materials, we infer that during its deposition a long interval of time elapsed, characterized by no violent agitations. With this stratum begins the second era of the drift. If it should be proved that the continent stood, during the preceding period, at a higher level than now, as some phenomena seem to indicate, this circumstance would afford additional evidence ifn favor of the separation of the two periods, since it would imply a subsidence of the continent, at the begin- ning of the deposition of the clay, by which the shores of the lake were brought within the leach of the waters to the height of the surface of the red clay. Admitting this, we must suppose that the former detritus was to a great extent swept away, ihd deposited in a more quiet manner. As to the boulders distributed through it, we may suppose that they were transported by floating ice, in the same manner as their transport is atthis day effected every sprmg from the borders ef the northern lakes and rivers, lind dispersed over the adjacent swamps and low lands. The question recurs as to the nature of the waters — whether they were salt orfresh. Considering the vast area over which the clay is spread — it being traceable not only along Lake Superior, but also along the St. Mary's river to Mackinac, and thence along Lake Michigan to the prairies of Illinois — it would seem to have constituted a part of the ancient bed of the ocean. It should, however, be remembered that we have, in former geo- logical epochs, fresh-water formations extending over ctrtisiderable areas, particularly during tertiary and carboniferous eras. At any rate, the question must remain doubtful, as long as we have no evidence of fossil remains. Thus far, I know of no type of animal or ve- getable life having ever been found in the clay of Lake Stiperior. 3. We have found everywhere resting upon the clay of Lake Superior a stratum of gravel and sand, which, notwithstanding its irregular struc- ture, is a real stratified deposite and must therefore be supposed to have been formed in water. Occurring at still higher levels than the drift clay, and attaining sometimes a thickness of several hundred feet, we must suppose that at the time of its deposition the country had subsided to a still lower level. Prom the diversity of its stratification we inter that this period was characterized by intervals of agitation and repose. According to Mr. H. D. Rogers's ingenious theory, this feature should be ascribed to the temporary operation of earthquake waves, such as are known to occur occasionally in our days, especially in the Pacific. Such waves might well have disturbed the bottom of the ocean, carrying before them an immense freight of deiriial materials, which were heaped up in irregu- lar masses and hills, resembling the drift accumulations. If we suppose similar disturbances to have been of frequent occurrence, they 'might well account for the absence of all organic remains at that epoch. I consider, as belonging to the close of this period, the transportation of tliose huge boulders which are scattered in such vast profusion over the sur- face of the gravel deposites, and which we have detected on the very sum- Ciits 01 the anticlinal axis, where no other drift deposites occur. It might 5, IS regTi- left undis- • m shore of e drift, or, kness and deposition agitations, should be sit a higher cu instance ►f the two the begin- ! lake were rfaceofthe etritus was anner. t they were )rt is atthis and rivers, r they were I spread — it 1 St. Mary's prairies of t bed of the tortner geo- able areas, re have no limal or ve- 5r. te Strperior rtUar struc- ted to have drift clay, we must sided to a thar, this I According iscribed to I known to ich wave© jfore them in irregu- ^e suppose light well )rtation of ler the sur- |very sum- It might Dm. Ho. ^ 2if thus appear, at first fhat t!his epo*hhad been characterized by tnore violent agitations than the preceding one. We should be carefqjl, however, not U> judge of the power and violence of an agency merely from the size of • tile materials transported; for, if the boulders had been conveyed by pow- erflil currents, we should not only find them of diminished size in theiir progress southward, but also rounded and smoothed like the smaller peb- Dies. On the contrary, we know that they are just as massive at the very limits of thedrift in Ohio, as near their birth-pilace} besides, many of them along the anticlinal axis are perched, as it were, on the very top of ndt- low hills and knobs, where it is hardly admissible that they should ever have been left by a violent agency. Finally, many of them, in spite of con- tradictory assertions, have rather shar{) angles, as if they had been subjected to slight attrition. I am therefore inclined to suppose that the surface boulders, like many of those buried in the drift-clay and sand, have been transported by floating ice, (not icebergs.) By this hypothesis, tlieir posi- tion on the summit of the*hills offers no longer any difficulty ; for it is nat- ural to suppose that they should have been stranded upon those points, which at the time were shoals. The changes of level w^hich the region of Lake Superior has undergone during the drift epoch are represented in the following diagram. Assuming that, during the period of the groovings, the waters stood nearly at the '^^' ^' same level as now, the land must have sunk during the sec- ond period to the depth of five hundred feet, and agam the same amount during the third period, when they reached thosie sum- mits, which are now one thou- sand feet above the lake. The boulders of Lake Superior, like those of all other parts of the country, point to the north as the source of their origin; yet there is this difference, that they are not generally derived froin for. Those in the immediate vicinity of the south shore have in the main been derived from the north shore, but as a whole they are not very numerous; and I have Mr. Foster's authority for stating that very few have passed beyond the dividing ridge. The boulders and pebbles of the opposite slope of the axis, although more numerous than on the northern slope, are all derived from the dividing ridge itself. The same is true to a great extent of those scattered over the plains and prairies of Wisconsin and Illinois. This ridge, abounding in eruptive and nietamorphic rocks, is therefore to be considered henceforth as the true birth-place of the boulders scattered over the western States, and we need no longer recur to high northern latitudes to ascertain their origin. The drift epoch may be considered as closed with the transportation of the boulders. The waters, after having thus reached their highest level — during which the transport of the boulders and pebbles was accomplished — again subsided. With this subsidence commences the era of the alluvium. We have no reason, however, to suppose that the subsidence was sudden. Everything leads us to believe, on the contrary, that it was gradual, and that the same agencies continued io operate to a certain degree. Thus we may infer that beaches were formed, sand bars built up, and boulders transported, in the same manner as before, although at lower levels. Meanwhile, the former and higher T., Thunder Cape. I. R., Isle Royale. D., Dividing-i'idge. «H Jkit. No. a9. beaches receded more and more from the shores; the bars, shoals, and •ub marine banks appeared ae ridges or oesars above the plains recently laid dry, whilst* new ones were forming at lower levels; and whenever tl^ie water, in its receding movement, stood for a sufficient time at the same level to allow the new shore to be acted upon and undermined by the waves, these bluffs and terraces were formed, as shown before. Now, since terraces and ridges occur frequently along the great lakes, they may be considered as a conclusive proof that the subsidence was rea'.ly gradual. In this respect, terraces and ridges, although compsed of drift materials, belong properly to the alluvial period, as well as the denudations along the channels through which the waters are supposed to have been dis- charged. I shall therefore examine them with more detail in my report upon the aliu . ium. Thus far, we are not aware of any striking geological event — such as the elevation of a mountain chain — having taken place between the two epochs of the drift and alluvium. It might therefore be asked if there is sufhcient reason to separate them. There are, indeed, some geologists who question the proprieiy f^f such distinction. My chief motive in adopting it is derived from all of the drift phenomena, rather than from any single event. The drift is the last phasis of any importance through which the earth passed before it became fitted for the habitation of man. Were it not for these deposites, a great portion of this continent, including the district em- braced in this repo.t, would have been a waste of naked and barren rocks, covered partially with heaps pf dry* sand or rough detrital materials. Through the long-continued agency of water, these materials have not only been reduced and dispersed, but also mingled in such proportions as to afford a most appropriate soil for vegetable and animal life. When, afterwards, the rise of the continent caused the waters to recede within their present limits, they left behind them those wide, drift-covered plains, destined ^o become, in the lapse of time, the seat of an industrious, in- telligent, and prosperous nation. We think ourselves justified in con- sidering the period, when the waters, after having done their work, began to recede, as the beginning of that new and grand era which has been properly called the era of man, and of which the alluvial period is tlie introduction. .'. ,-.'1 ',('. ■^riiii-^ ii' iii i [1-^^ '.-• M. . ' i 1 1 )■• .' t i ; i- . ■ . i< ■ ■•' ■.nil si.'.'.'. .( » i' ■-<'i ■ ' t ■ '( j.. . . • ;•■•'■ tXs, ••■ ( . J I i ' a /• .-M'.. ■J*.,;' 1 i . loals, and s recently whenever the same 3(1 by the low, since y may be J gradual, materials, [>ns along been dis* my report geological .ken place lerefore be e, indeed, My chief ma, rathei 1 the earth ! it not for istrict em- ren rocks, materials. I have not portions as When, ,e within ed plains, trious, in- in con- k, began las been od is tlje • V . i . I . ,..•,, 5,;-, il .•.'*.»» Mi ' ? i I . ■• ; . W ■H. >\ ■ '! ;v. H Doe. !Co. 69. 21$ GLOSSARY OF MINING AND METALLURGIC TERMS. ^!f^^ i.i ('v.i/; 111!'/ n iu*!' »A— • i^'>i\-.'\W For convenient reference, we have prepared the annexed glossary of the technical and provincial terms relating the science of mining and metal- lurgy, which includes most of those in use in this country and in books treating of these subjects. The fact that a great number of Cornish and Geftnan miners are employed in our mines readily accounts for the intro- duction of foreign, provincial and technical woras, many of which are already in familiar use in the Lake Superior cop|)er region; others are used in foreign works treating of mining and metallurgy, and have been adopted in English books, when we have pp, wpr4 expressing exactly (he same idea. ..,,,;,, ,^ . i.i / ' r,v« t •• ^••■.•'n v In the glossary, the letter C, affixed to a word signifies that it is of Cornish origin; F, follows a term adopted from the French, and ^, from the German language. ',' ., .-.'i '.■■■!-■{> ■:,{■: GLOSSARY. Abstrich. — ( G ) — Impure litharge obtained in the operation of separating silver from lead ores. Abzug. — (G.) — The first, very impure litharge which is formed in the operation of cupelling argentiferous lead-ores. Adit — aditlevel. — A horizontal excavation or gallery through which the mine is drained. The aditlevel is usu&..y commenced from the bottom of the lowest nfeighboring valley, and extended through the work- ings of the mine. Adventurers. — Shareholders, or those interested in a joint mining enter- prise. Air-machine. — Apparatus for ventilating a mine by withdrawing the foul air firom it, or by forcing in pure air from the surface. Arch. — A piece of ground left unworked near a shaft. Attle. — Rubbish; rock contairing too little ore to be worth working. ' Average standard — (C.) — The price per ton of the fine copper in the ore, after deducting the charge for smelting, which amounts, at Swansea, to £2 5s. per ton of ore. Back. — The back of a lode is that part of it which is nearest the surface in relation to any portion of the workings of the mine; thus the back of the level is that pari of the lode which is above. Bar. — Term appFfed in Cornwall to a vein of a different description of mineral crossing the lode or country. Beat away. — To excavate; a term usually applied to hard ground. Bed. — A seam or horizontal depositc of ore. Bend. — (C.) — Indurated clay; term applied by the miner to any hard- ened, argillaceous substance. Blackjack. — (O.) — Blende, sulphurct of zinc. Blast. — The air introdu 'ed by the blowing apparatus into the furnaccf. Blower. — ( (J.) — A smelter of ores. tto fide. No. 69. Bounds.— (C) — The limits of the ownership of a tract containing tin ore. Bras(fue.— (F.)- Alining of closely-beaten charcoal, or other carbona- ceous substance. Branch. — A small vein which strikes out from the main lode, or branches from it. Brood. — Impurities mixed with the ores. \.^roil. — The traces of the presence of a lode found in the loose matter iit or near the surface. _.,... f, Buckers. — Men who break or br^iise the ore. ' . > ' ^urfrf/»w^.— Separating the ores from the mixture of earthy substaoce* ty means of a wooden frame or cistern filled with water. ^^ Bunch. — A small quantity of ore in a compact mass in the vein. ** Cal. — (O.) — Wolfram; tnngstate of iron and manganese. | ^^ Chnd. — (C.) — Pluor-spiar. . • f i ;» ,v>v Captain. — Superintendent of a mine. * , Caunter (or contfn) lode. — A lode formirtg an angle with the ordinary direction of the other lodes in its vicinity. , . >v Chartipionlode. — The principal lode of a mine. ' ' ' - •^ .'■- Clack. — The valve of a pump 6f any kind. • -orro i**r * ^-^ .;a Cob. — To break up the ore with hammers, so as to sort out the valua- ble portion of it. Cockle. — Schorl, or black toprmaline: ■ . , , r • ..t. - Coffin. — Old workings open (o the day. Comb. — The arrangement of the mineral contents of the lode jn paral- lel, crystalline masses. Cost-book system. — The method of working a mine according to cer- tain regulations, by which the adventurers may at any time "sign off," and cease to be liable for any further expenditure in proving the mine. The plan is to insert in the "cost-b 'ok" the name and address of each of the adventurers who first work the mine, with all subsequent transfers of shares, and every expense attached to the undertaking; a meeting of the proprietors is held every two nionths, at which the purser presents his accounts, made up to that period, and the share- holders are thus enabled to judge of the state of the undertaking before incurring any further liabilities!. Counti-y. — The strata or rock which the vein traverses; the rock in the neighborhood of the vein. Course. — The direction of the vein. Cross course. — A lode or vein which intersects another at a considera- ble angle, and. which frequently throws the first out of its course. Ckoss-cour^e spar. — (C.) — Radiated quartz. j,. Cross cut. — A level driven at right angles with another to intersect the lode. Crop. — The best ore. . . ,., ^ Crop out. — To come to the surface; referring to strita. -. . Crush. — To grind the ores without water. ' . ,.. >• Cut. — To inlersect by driving or sinking. * » Costeaning, — Discovering the situation of a lode by sinking pits in its Wcinity, and driving transversely to iijtersect it, Cofering. — Securing the shaft from the influx of water by ramming clay, &c., around the sides of the timber. Doc. No. 60^ iii •V'v rock in Dam — .(C.) — Choke damp; foul air. Dajrlinge. — ( Q.) — Residue of copper in the p," '•ss^of separating silver from copper in the liquation process. Dead-work. — Work where the vein is not productive, or work which is done without obtaining any ore. Dearia. — ^Rubbish; attle; v«?instone barren of ore. . Dialling. — Mining enginee/ing; surveying within a mine. Dish. — (C.) — That portion of the produce of a n^jiue paid as rei\t to the owner or lord. '''"'''.■;'■ '^ ., Dissueing. — Breaking down the strata frono one of t!he Iralls of h. rich and narrow vein, so that it can afterwards be taken down without loss or waste. Dropper. — A branch which leaves the main lode. Driving. — Excavating in a horizontal direction; opposed to sinking or excavating in a vertical direction. Drift. — Horizontal excavation. Dress. — To clean the ore by breaking off h^gments of the gangue from the valuable ore. Ebmns. — ( C.) — Dikes of granite and feldspar; porphyritic rocks cutting the slates and granites of Cornwall. Engincshctft. — The shaft by which the water is drawn from the lowest portion of the mine. ^- Feeder. — A branch falling into the main lode. Fault. — A sudden interruption of the continuity of strata in the same plane, accompanied by a cmck or fissure of a width varying firom a mere line to several feet. Flucan. — Decomposed, clayey matter, accompanying the slides and cross-courses, and sometimes the lode itself. Foot-wall. — The wall on the lower side of the lode. Gangue. — The non-metal! iferous portion of the lode; the mineral substances accompanying the ore. Gad. — ^A pointed wedge of a peculiar form, having its sides of a parol* lei figure. Gctrkupfer. — (G.) — Refined copper. \ Glist.—(C.)— Mica. Good levels. — Nearly horizontal levels. Gossan. — Oxide of iron, intermixed with quartz, generally found near the surfaoe, in the lode or accompanying it. Grass. — The surface; the open air. ' "^ Growan. — (C.) — Decomposed granite. Chround. — ^The rock which is adjacent to thelod©; the strata in which the lode occurs. Gvlphof are. — A very large deposite of ore in the lode. Hanging-wall. — The wall or side above the lode, in contra-distinction to the foot- wall. Heave. — The horizontal dislocation which occurs when one lode is in- tersected by another liaving a different direction. Hoisc. — The dead ground between two branches of a lode. Joggling-table. — Inclined board, and which is made to move with a sudden and quick motion, used in washing the ores. Jiff To separate the ore with a riddle or wire-bottomed sieve, the lieavier substance sinking to tlie bottom of the .sieve I m Boc. No. m . r Junction. — Point where two veins, or different rocks, unite. s". Ktevc. — A larce vat. Kibble. — The bucket in whicji the ore and attle are sent to the surface. Ki/.las.—( a ;— Clay slate. Kupfer-stein, ( G.) — Roguhis from conpery-lead ores twice roasted. Lander. — The man who attends at tno rnouth of the shaft to receive the ores as they are sent to the surface, j . - ?; ^r'. ^. ■ i' », Leader. — A branch of the main vein. Levels. — Galleries driven on the lode at various depths, generally at intervals of ten fathoms. LAfters. — Wooden beams to which the stamp-heads are fastened Lode. — Regular vein producing ore. ;,» Loupe. — (F.) — Bloom, from the puddling furnace. ' .\ . ; V Matte. — (F.) — Regulus, melted sulphuret. Mock lead. — Blende, sulphuret of zinc. ' • .. • ,i > i» Moor-stone. — (O.) — Granite. ' '. .» Mundic. — (Q.) — Iron pyrites. Needle. — A long, tapering piece of copper used in iamping the hole for blasting, in order to leave a cavity for inserting the ^'^i'ety-fuse. Pack. — To occasion the speedy subsidence of the '.>re in the process of tossing or chiming, by beating the keeve with a harmner. Pair. — Gang, or party of men. • ' ; Parcel. — A heap of ore ready for sale. - Pass. — An opening left for letting down stuff to th 3 level. PtacA.— (' C.;— Chlorite. Pick. — A common instrument for mining and agricultural purposes. Pillar.— k piece of ground lei'tto support the hanging wall. Pitman. — One employed to look afie- th.e lifts of pumps and the drain- age. Pit-work. — The pumps am! other apparatus of the engine-shaft. Point of the horse. — The spot where the lode splits or divides into two parts. , Pot grown. — (C) — Soft decomposed granite. ^ Prion. — ( C.) — Soft, white clay^ esteemed in Cornwall a favorable sign, when found near a lode. Rack. — An inclined frame on which ores are washed. Middle. — A sieve for washing the ores. Rosette. — (P.) — Dish of refined copper taken off from the surface by throwing on cold water. Run of a lode. — Its direction. . > Saalbdnd. — (G.) — Plural saalbdndcr, selvages, or thin bands of earthy matter, generally argillaceous, on each side of the vein next to the wall-rock. Sett. — The portion of ground taken on lease for mining purposes. ,, Schlich. — (G.) — Finely pulverized ore mud. Slag. — Silicious substances formed in the various processes of smelt- ing and refining, principally silicates of the protoxide of iron, alumina, lime, and magnesia, generally containing a small portion of various metallic substances. Shaft. — A vertical or inclined excavation in the lode or through the country. ^pleissofon. — (G.) — Copper refining furnace vvith two receivers for the fused melal. th Doc. No. 69. v.> m ^. I Shrrirs. — Apparatus for raising or lowering heavy articles in the S/iclf -Tlifi solid rock. S/iof/tni^, — Tracing the situation of a lode by means of the loose of ore and veinstone which have been separated from it and scaiicrud iu its neighborhood. Shooting. — Blasting with gunpowder. Sinking. — Excavating downwards in the shaft. Slide. — A vertical dislocation of the lode. Sfirkrmn'fes. — Polished, argillaceous surfaces of the rock, cati^sed by the rubbing nud grinding of large masses against each other. Stockiocrk. — (G.) — An assemblage of small irregular strings of ore, which has no regular form like a true vein, but in which the ore seems to have been disseminated through the fissures in the rocks. Slimes. — Metallic ores uiixed with finely-comminuted particles of the rock. • ";.-^ Smelt. — The reduction of metals from their ores by the aid of heat^ in the usual metallurgic treatment in the large way, is called smelting. Sollar. — The small platform at the end of a certain* number of ladders. Spnlling — Breaking up the rock into small pieces for the purpose of separating the ore. Stamp. — To break up the ore and gangue by machinery, with the aid of water, for the purpose of washing out the heavier metallic particles. Stamp-head. — The iron end of the beam which by its weight breaks the fragments of ore iu the process of stamping. Stfrpe. — To excavate the space between two levels by a succession of slop-like workings. ' String. — A small vein. Stuff. — Attle, or rubbish. Sump. — The bottom of the engine-shaft, into which the water is allowed to run, and from which it is pumped or removed by some other means. TucLlc. — The windlass, rope, and kibble. Tamping. — The substance with which the hole in blasting is filled af- ter the charge of powder has been introduced; also, the process of filling the hole is called tamping. Thrown. — A lode is said to be thrown up or down when it is intersected by a slide by which a portion of the lode has been removed from its ori- ginal position to one side or the other. Ticketings. — (Q.) — The weekly public sales of ore. Trilmte. — The system of working by tribute is that under which the workman receives a certain proportion cf the ore which he raises as a re- turn for his labor. Trunk. — A long narrow inclined box, in which the separation of the finely- washed ore from the earthy impurities is eflected. Tunnel-head. — The top of a furnace, where the materials are put in. Tut%cork. — Work in which the laborer is paid in proportion to the amount done — generally at so much per fathom in driving or sinking. Tuyere. — Pipe through which the blast is introduced into the furnace. Underlie. — The dip or deviation of a vein or bed from the perpen- dicular. Van. — To cleanse a small portion of ore by washing away the earthy, matter, by the aid of a shovel or some similar implement. m 2U Poc. No. 6^. VHn. — The contents of a fissure in the rock0;Of indefinite length and depd). ^ur. — (C.)^-A cavity in the vein, generally lined with crystals. •> Tfall. — The side of the rocks adjacent to the vein. , Washing. — ^The process of separating the ore from the earthy impurities by the aid of water, the particles of ore and earthy matler arranging them- selves in different positions according to their different; specific gravities. WMm. — A macnine consisting of a drum revolving vertically by horse, Steam, or water power, by which, with the aid of a rope and pulley, th« ores are raised from the bottom of the mine. Whimsha/t. — The shad through which the ore is raised by means of a whim. Whip and deny. — The simplest method of raising the kibble by means of a single pulley; the kibble is attached to a rope, which is drawn by a horse. Winxe. — A shaft sunk from one level to another, for vontHlation, or for proving the vein. A winze differs from a shaft in not being open to tha siw^ce^ like Ui9 IftU^r. • . Vi •)■<•■• iJinq •. biJ>»j'Mfir'7 ♦Jl/icaW 1.:,; "iO.m-'-'VJ'-'": :\n I'X- ■[: j.'u';., ;■■. fiW: . :..; ""I'i ' ' ,. .' ' ■ %. ' ?>', :. .-e' _ 'ifi'-' mrn^am 'v. ■irr ■.;< ■Ia''^' ■t ^ i • I ^?»s?r ■tmrw' •'n^^^^vi^P^ mmum^^BS i.i^.i tj■, UyU'x .• ^\■:^•■ ■7 •■Clii bfk w--^ \':^.-A%' ' ( • ■• • • ■ t , ' "'!■*■ * '^* 4. .. 4 -• »■ '1 ' ■• • . " '¥'KSMi'Jr-> ->.;■»-■- ■ ■•-•'■'»«?!--' i^^. rff^ Fac tftmilr of a. 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