IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) /. .<', :^3 / (/j 1.0 I.I 1.25 '- IIIIM 2.. lU 1112,2 m ""^ m 2.0 1.8 U III 1.6 V] (^ /}. e. V y > signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbols V signifie "FIN". Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre fiimds d des taux de reduction diffdrents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul cliche, il est filmi & partir de Tangle supdrieur gauche, de gauche A droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images n6cessaire. Les diagrpmmes suivants illustrent la m6thode. 9rrata to pelure, n d D 32X 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 I REPORT ON THE PLUMBAGO MINES SITUATED AT roiNTE AUX CHflNES, GRENVILLE, PKOVINCE OF QUEBEC. By CHARLES EOBB, j MINING ENGINEEK, OF MONTKEAL; JL WITH A LETTER FROM PROF. ROBERT BELL. OF QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY, KINGSTON. CAMBRIDGE: PRESS OF JOHN WILSON AND SON. 1868. /8G8 17 vi The Properties described in the following Reports having been secured, it is now proposed to organize a Company for working the same, with such a Capital, and under such direction and code of By-laws as may be agreed upon by the Subscribers, at a meet- ing duly called for that purpose. Subscriptions will be received at No. 3, Barristers' Hall, Court Square, Boston ; where specimens of the mineral may be examined, together with the crucible made therefrom and tested at the Ballard Vale Works. ^ 5y 5i PJIELIMIXARY III^MARKS. In presenting the following Report, it is proper to state, for the information of those who are unacquainted with the author, Mr. Charles Robb, of Montreal, that he is a distinguished mining engineer, whose many years of experience in the practice of his profession, and well-known independence of mind, judgment and integrity, eminently entitle him to respect and confi- dence. Sir William E. Logan,* the celebrated direc- tor of the Geological Survey of Canada, which has ' been going on under order of the Provincial Govern- ment for more than twenty years, places him first among those to whom he acknowledges his obliga- tions for valuable information respecting the " locali- * We trust that we are not violating any confldcMico in saying, that we liave seen a testimonial given by Sir WilHani, of wiiicli the following is an exact transcrijjt : — Esq., "MoxTKKAL, 30th August, IHOO. Dr.AU Sir, — It gives nie mucli pleasure to say, that I am well awjiiaiiiti'd nith Mr. Charles Uobb, mining engineer, of Montreal. I consider him a re- liable person, one of strict probity, and possessed of good judgment in a pro- fessional capacity. He takes great pains to ascertain the truth, and he gives his opinion with honesty. I am, dear sir, very truly j'ours, WM. E. LOGAN. tics and modes of occurrence of several mineral deposits of economic importance." Now, among the minerals of this character, that which forms tlie subject of this Report claims our at- tention from the great variety and importance of the uses to which it is applied ; such, for example, as the manufacture of lead-pencils, and electrotyping ; for both of which purposes the purest article is re- quired, and the highest price is paid, (for the latter, $2.50 per pound). It is extensively used for polish- ing stoves and other articles of iron ; for lining moulds for delicate castings ; for lubricating the bear- ings of heavy machinery ; and, especially, when mixed Vv^ith clay, it is used in the greatest qua^itity for a purpose we regard as the most important of all ; namely, the manufacture of crucibles. Being infu- sible, and presenting a powerful resistance to the ac- tion of caloric, this mineral is indispensable for the composition of melting-pots that will stand the intense heat of furnaces for the making of cast-steel. It is to be observed, that plumbago, or graphite, as it is called by Werner, one of the most eminent min- eralogists, is of two principal varieties, — the amor- phous or uncrystallized and the lamellar or foliated. The former is used for many of the above purposes ; but only the foliated^ in a state of great purity, will answer for crucibles. For this use there is growing up in our country a demand wliich it will not be easy to supply. Hitherto our dependence has been, and still is, almost, if not altogether, upon the plumbago imported from Ceylon, in the East Indies, either di- rectly to this country, or by the way of England. The t I i I supply from this source, however, is irregular, often insufficient, and Uablc to be cut off entirely in case of hostilities in the Indian Ocean. Of the quantity imported previous to 1863, we have no reliable data for ctu estimate. In that year, accordhig to th6 cus- tom-house returns, the importation into the districts of New York and Boston was only ()7,7'23 pounds. In 186-t, it was 5,122,880; in 1805, 5,770,240; in 1866, 3,299,520. If success in the manufacture of refined steel in the United States is a matter of national concern, it is obviously of very great importance that an ample supply of this valuable mineral should be secured from sources near at hand. The opinion, however, has very generally obtained, and is still held by many with great pertinacity, tliat the mineral of the kind and degree of purity required is not to be found in this country. But we venture to affirm, and with confidence from personal observation, that graphite of the foliated variety, and of a quality fully equal, if not superior, to the best of the imported article, exists in abundance in some portions of Can- ada bordering on the river Ottawa. This is a large and navigable river, having its embouchure into the St. Lawrence by two mouths, forming between them the Island of Montreal. The geological formation of the region, we are told, is identical with that of Cey- lon. Throughout an extensive tract of country, the mineral, in a pure and crystallized state, is seen, here and there, to crop out, particularly along the line of contact between the limestone and the gneissoid rock. Generally speaking, the mineral, in its pui-e state, has () not hccn found in quantity sufnciont for ])rofitablo workiui'; but is most coiunionly disscniinatcd in tin; udjaccnit rocks, so as to re(iuire crusliin*^ and ^vushin^^ by whic'b it is separated from foreign ingredients, and fitted for tlie market. There iire exceptions, how- ever, to tliis remark ; and the writer, havinji^ visited the re<>ion referred to several times within the last two years, and, in company with the State (ieoloi^ist of Vermont, Prof. Ilager, examined the principal lo- calities where explorations have been made, has no hesitation in expressing liis conviction, tliat the prop- erties described in the accompanying Keport by Mr. Kobb alford the best promise of any deposits yet ex- plored for an abundant yield of this important mineral, and in a state of the greatest purity. And this con- viction is strengthened by the opinion expressed by Dr. T. Sterry Hunt, in his recently published lleport on this subject, that '' it will probably be found that the higldy crystalline lamellar Graphite belongs, iti all cases, to true veins, where a slow process of deposit has allowed it to assume that mode of aggregation and that purity which characterize other minerals thus deposited." — Geolofjlcal Survey of Canada, 1866, p. 2:22. The maps which accompany the Kcport will give a very correct idea of tlie situation of tlie two pro^jcr- ties, and of the facility for transportation by the Ot- tawa and St. Lawrence llivers. Lake Champlain, "Whitehall Canal, and the Hudson Ilivcr, to New York ; or from Burlington by railroad to Boston. It will be seen by the Keport, that Sir William Lo- gan, in his Geological Survey of Canada, referring to V) % ) I I the first of these properties, dosin^niitod on tlie "Nfiip No. 2 as tlic Cainerou i>r()per(\, states, tliat the '* hod lias heeii traced, at intervals, for a distance of ahoiit three vhIcs, running; a little east of north." l)y refer- ence to Map No. 1, the limestone hand is seen con- necting the two properties ; and there is the stronj^est reason to ])eliev(^ that this deposit of phnnhaij^o ex- tends from one to the other. The entire tract ai)])cars to he a continnation of the higli ridge on which is the Cameron deposit, and to he similar in its geologi- cal character. The mineral rights of this intervening tract, there is no donht, could he secured on very reasonahle terms ; and its accpiisition hy the company ]u*oposed to he formed, would, in all prohahility, give advantages to place it heyond com[)etition. A good road passes along the eastern hase of the ridge the whole distance, affording great facility of access for working the property, and for direct com- munication with good water-power. Camuuidge, Dec. 80, 1807. J. D. G. The following testimoniiil to tho quiility of tli(! Cameron Plum- bago is from the Superintendent of the crneible tlepartment of the Whipple File and Steel ^Ifg. Co.'.s works at llullard Vale, in u letter to the Treasurer : — Ballard Vale, Fob. 27, 18G7. S. D. Saroeant, Esq. Dear Sir, — I now make a report of the trial pots made from Mr. Green's Canada Plumbaffo. Tlie first lot lie sent me, (10 lbs.) I made mto one Steel Crucible, and it lias run four heats. I pronounce it A. No. 1. Yours respectfully, JOHN UNDERWOOD. RKPOUT ON THE [f> POINTE AUX CHENES PLLMBAGO MINES, SITUATED IN GKENVILLE, CANADA EAST. J 90, St. FRAxroTS Xavieu Sthekt, MoNTiiEAL, lOtli Noveiuber, 18G7. Jami:s D. Gueen, Esq., Cainbriilge, IVIass. Dear Sir, — Agreeably to your request, I have visited and inspected certain lots of land in the Aug- mentation of Grenville, in Canada East, of which you have recently acquired control, for the purpose of mining and manufacturing plumbago. I have now the honor of transmitting to you the following Report, together with a map showing the position of the properties ; and also a more detailed plan of one of them, on which considerable work has been done in testing the deposits. I beg also to hand to you copies of certain printed reports upon properties of a similar nature, containing important information on the subject, which need not here be recapitulated. Your property consists of the north half of Lot No. 3, in the second Eange of the township, contain- 9 be ing one hnndrrd arrcs ; and tlic soutli half of liOt No. 2, in the sixtli U;m<:fc, containing; one hnnch'cd acres, — on whicli lots yon have ac(inired the mineral rights, free from all dues or royalty. Also, the fee- simple of five acres of land on the first-mentioned lot, and of three acres on the north half of the other, at both which points the most extensive developments have been made, and the richest sniface indications of the mineral found. The district in wliich yoiii- property is situated lies on the north side of the great navi"^ ible river Ottawa, abont midway betv ecu ]M )nlieal and Ottawa City. It has been long esteem* d na the most favorable in the province for the produr-tion of graphite ; having been specially mentioned by Sir AVillinm Logan, in this connection, as far back as the year ISol, when fine specimens from both localities now owned by you were sent by him to the great London Exhibition, where they attracted much attention. Subsequent de- velopments have proved that the region north of the Ottawa, in Canada, is probably destined to be one of the most important in the world for the supply of this useful mineral. In the district in which you are specially interested, the country is underlaid by rocks of the Laurentian formation, consisting of gneiss, interstratified with crystalline limestone, the bands or beds of the lat- ter rock being penetrated occasionally by the former, as well as by other rocks of an intrusive character. The graphite occurs associated with the limestone, or in its immediate vicinity, both in beds subordinate to, and in veins cutting the stratification ; where concen- 10 1:;! tratcd in the purest form, and least mixed with for- eign ip^^redients, it seems, as is also the case with most metallic ores, to lie between the different kinds of rock. I have indicated by the blue tint approxi- mately, upon the general map, the tracts underlaid by the plumbaginous limestone formation referred to. On your lot No. 3, in the second range, the lime- stone is penetrated by a mass of syenite, forming a ridge of seventy or eighty feet in height, and of a linear extent of one hundred and sixty rods ; on the south side of which, and near to the line of contact of the two distinct rocks, the deposit of graphite occurs. Another description of intrusive rock, consisting of a species of trap or dolerite, also occurs here, being observed at some places to overflow or cap the lime- stone, and at others to cut it in the manner of a dike. Such changes of rock are everywhere regarded as favorable for the aggregation of minerals and metallic ores ; and occurring, as they do here, in a limestone highly charged with graphite, have, no doubt, been conducive to its deposit here in large quantities, and in a state of great purity. A considerable amount of work has been done in exploring and testing this location ; and about three tons of very pure plumbago have been incidentally obtained and sent to market, where it has realized the highest price usually obtained for this article. Four pits have been opened upon a course N. 50° E., coinciding with the strike of the rocks ; the dis- tance between the extreme points of the openings is about five hundred yards; and pure plumbago has been obtained at all the openings, which may thus be 11 Is Is regarded as marking the course of an embedded vein. The purest phimbago has been obtained chiefly at the pit marked No. 5. At the distance of about two hundred feet across the strike, other openings have revealed the probable existence of another parallel vein of the mineral. On both of your lots the facilities for mining, as regards drainage, deposit of waste materials, supply of timber, proximity to roads, &;c., are of the most favorable description. Sir William Logan, in writin^^ of the tw^o locations secured by you, remarks : " A bed of pure graphite occurs in the Augmentation of Gi:envillc, and has been traced at intervals for a distance of about three miles, running a little east of north. One of the exposures, occurring on Lot 3, Range 2, has been mined to a small extent by Messrs. llussell & Co. At the open- ing of the excavation, it showed a thickness of about ten inches ; but the pure graphite was found to form a lenticular mass, which appeared to be separated from other masses of the same character by intervals, in which the gra})liite became intermixed with the limestone. It is probable, that a number of these, running through the rock at the same horizon, may represent the general character of the workable beds. On Lot 2, E-ange 6, the bed becomes three feet thick; but here the quality is impaired by the presence of foreign earthy matters, which, however, can scarcely be detected by the eye." I may here remark, that, on a late visit to your lot, No. 2, in the Sixth llange, I found that, in addition to the bed referred to by Sir William, a ve'm had recently been discovered, which III! 12 i has yielded many fine specimens of the pure min- eral. Since the date at which Sir William Logan's re- marks were penned, a species of revolution has taken place in the business of producing plumbago for the market. Formerly, the prevailing impression was, that the mineral was marketable only when obtained from the rocks in a state approaching absolute purity ; but the irregularity of the deposits of such a nature, not only in Canada, but wherever they have been worked, precludes the possibility, in most cases, of calculating with any degree of certainty upon an ade- quate supply from this source. Furthermore, the graphite, as it occurs in nature, even in the purest form, invariably contains a certain proportion of for- eign matters, such as lime and iron ; which, for the most important purpose for which it is used, — namely, the manufiicture of crucibles, — renders the previous extraction of these deleterious ingredients absolutely necessary. Recently, processes have been introduced, whereby, in a simple and inexpensive manner, the plumbago may be separated in a state of absolute purity from rocks impregnated with it. The employment of these processes of manufacture, which consist chiefly in crushing and washing the rocks, after the manner of an ore, have established the business on a comparatively permanent, sure and satisfactory basis of calculation. The estimates of the costs and profits,* contained in the accompany- ing printed reports, although prepared specially with * Sec tliese estimates, at the end of this Report. U\ d e reference to other locations of a similar nature, will not require material modification in the case of your properties. And it only remains for me to say on this head, that on the lots now held by you there exist undoubtedly deposits of the mineral, both in the con- centrated an^l disseminated state, of equal, if not su- perior, excellence to any yet discovered in Canada. For the successful prosecution of this business, it is essential to have, in the immediate vicinity of the mines, the control of water-power sufficient to drive the requisite machinery for crushing and washing. In this respect also your properties are favorably situated, having command of the waters of the Pointe aux Chenes Brook, which, though small, is fed by never-failing springs, and connected with a natural reservoir, in the shape of a lake of about half a square mile in extent, and of a very considerable depth. This stream flows in a southerly direction through a table- land elevated at least two hundred feet above the Ottawa Eiver ; and afl'ording, at other convenient points, facilities for further damming up and storing its waters, if necessary. For the distance of about half a mile from where it falls into the Ottawa Iliver, its channel descends with a tolerably regular slope ; and, if the whole of its waters were conveyed in a close pipe to or near the embouchure, it would afl'ord ample power for driving all the requisite machinery ; with the further advantage, by this arrangement, of avoiding all obstructions from ice, incident to the maintenance of water-wheels in winter in this climate. An eligible site for the mill, as shown upon the plans, can easily be obtained at the mouth of the stream, at 14 the distance of about two miles from one, and six miles from the other, of your locations. And for the convenience of shipment, a site for a wharf, with ample depth of water near the shore of the river, can be had at the distance of one-third of a mile from the proposed mill-site. I have the honor to be, dear sir, Your most obedient servant, CHARLES llOBB, 3Ii7iing Engineer. The following are the estimates referred to in the foregoing Report : — In order to show the groumls for my belief, that a highly lucra- tive business may be established by mining on such a bed or vein as I have described, and separating its more valuable mineral ingredients by crushing and washing, I beg to submit the following estimate of the costs and profits of Avorking, — premising that the calculation, in all its more important items, is based upon actual experience. The requisite machinery is of a simple and inexpen- sive description, and abundance of water-power for driving it may be obtained in the immediate neighborhood. Tlie rock containing 25 per cent by weight of pure plumbago, suppose that 8 per cent is lost in dressing, &c., (which is more than an ample allowance ;) then, in order to produce one ton of pure plumbago, about six tons of rock ai'c required to be mined and dressed. From reliable sources of information I learn, that the usual price of pure plumbago in the New- York market is about seven cents per pound;* but, in the subjoined estimate, I shall, for the sake of safety, assume it to be worth only six cents per pound. II * Thoso estimates are made upon a specie basis. At present the price is 14 cts. per lb., occasioned, as reported, by the flooding oftlie mines in Ceylon. J. D. G., Dec. 20, 1867. --:^U't 15 than Estimate of Costs and Profits on producing one Ton of Pure Plumlxtgo. Mining tons of rrfck .... at $2.r)0 per ton $15.00 Dniwiiiff to (lrcssiiilacc, and chopping out pieces, which they took home, and cruslicd to powder for polishing their stoves and pi])es ; and the school- master, who used to "whip the cat" amongst them, alwavs had his boots carefully black(uied ^vith it. McArthur will remember my father advising his sons to strip the sand off a larger portion of the bed, and get out the plumbago in quantities to send to the New- York market. From the appearance of the bed, he did not doubt, for a moment, that a large amount could be obtained by simple means. A year or two after I became ccnniected with the Geological Survey I was on a holiday visit to my friends at I/Orignal, and one day went on a tour through the Augmentation ; and, amongst others, paid a \isit to ^IcArthur. I found tlie "black-lead hole" partly filled up by the falling- in of the sand, but soon removed some of it. and, with an old axe, borrowed from McArthur, I chopped out a hundied weight or more of the })lunibago. Some of the pieces I took down to Sir William Logan. The largest of these measured about twenty inches in length, and consisted of sohd graphite, with almost invisible particles of calcspar scattered through it. It was taken out acrot(> in the nuiseum in Montj'CJil lit tlie present moment; hut it \^ possible that it was sent to'tlie J)ui)lin l!\hihition, and lost. U(jwever. Sir AVilliam can tell you about it. aiul also show yon sm;tller s})e('imens which I In'ou^ht liim at the same time. My brother, who was with ]no 0]i this visit, also took home som(^ sj)ecimens, whirh he aftcu'wards brou<^ht u[) here and g to mo, so th;.t, if von want a sann)l(\ I ran fnrnisli vou. i also left a nnmbei' of pieces under McArthu)'s ash-house ; l.iut it is so long ago. that I suppose they have; all disa])- p(vired before now. The part of ihe Ix'd laid b;n-e was too small to enabh? mc to form a, very diTidod 0|)inion al)out its constancy ; but. as far as observable, it a])])eared veiy promising and regular. The reason why such a Ixul as AIcArthur's liail not been tried at that time was the idea that only puio graphite, like that from Cameron's lot, was of much value. Tlie WQW processes for dressing plumbtigo lilve this for mar- k(^t give the matter quite a, different aspect. The particles of spar in INFcArthur's plumbago are small, and form only a trilling percentage of the mass. Judging from ^^hat I saw, this is decidedly the nmst promising locality for plund)agf expense and yet pro-iuee good rruciUes. The pre; ared ].!umhago i. suitable Ibr pem-il making. Kcspeetfully your ebf. srvt., <^"- T. JAC.K.SUN\ M.l)., .^V,/^. .1,v.sy;^„.. . No.l 1 1 -^ I ( I i / \ 1 t, 1 < 1 -.-=rnB-r rxn^-TS. - , -r»-..r r If i jk I O i '4 5 (.?/;//?". ir_: ,^==± Mf C.V /■/ / / /■// y ';^'^?^i<:^>i.':SS..- ■,x^- — -■—' If//. mmssM Jmu a, -P PoSfTfOX oiThi: PkOI'MHTY or r Ht wrmimE^immmw^ m GRENVILLE. CANADA EAST. ALE zn::::: ,=i •^l//7r.y. LOT II. *i No.5 . . ■ t V \ ^^ NoS A* /' ■ ' CAMERO ,.'.-X OT II. LOT I. ( e ^MERON PROPERTY . _^y # J ■^ hh'MW'P Vk-^ / r / v-''^-^ ..w l'^. I I. f i i i f \ \ r LOT /// /-or //.\ V 7 T -^ W -A ?: ic iii.:^i::i=.iL.id:. j^/;' V 4fi iBi H POl^rCAurc^^^ SCALi:. HuCfffli/ts or _/ Mile I' llohh M.K Man ( fra(