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Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre film6s d des taux de reduction diff^rents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul clich6, il est film6 d partir de I'angle supdrieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images n6cessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la m^thode. 32 X I 1 2 3 4 5 6 I Press :d BROS., Toronto, '!♦ : I ■I| 11 :m -^ i . ;H Press of :D BROS. , 54 YONCE ST. TORONTO, CANADA ♦♦What is there in it?" FOR BY THE f Hidden Mines; AND How TO Find Them CONTAINS THK INFORMATION CALLED [FOR BY THE ORDINARY BUSINESS MAN, WHO IS INTERESTED FOR BUSINESS REASONS ONLY, IN Mines, Metals and Ores BY ... 'I '5 ! i 4 i 4 1 1 a 1 PI W. Thos. Newman -..■ii '9&^?n^ :!M):^. Toronto : The M. Rogers Publishing Co. legs '"*rT7r \'\' a ^-s ^%iFf Entered according to Act of the Parliament Canada.in the year one thousand eight hundred ani ninety-five, by M. Rogers Newman, Toronto, Ontark in the Office of the Minister of Agriculture. 880198 t ) 11 PREFACE My object in attempting this work, is to rovide a little practical information, on a sub- ct, of great interest to many who liave little no knowledge of the matters treated herein; Ind who have neither the time, nor the oppor- nity, to undertake the study, necessary to an bderstanding of the great number of more ientific and more comprehensive books, now print. I have endeavored to give, in as simple nguage as possible, an insight into the entic- g business of searching for and exploiting ines, carefully avoiding such matters as are purely scientific value, and confining myself those likely to influence people who are en- ged in prospecting, or interested in Minerals, oni commercial motives only. The use of scientific terms has been avoided here possible, and when used, care has been ken to explain their meaning and application. In short this work is intended for the benefit the business man, the investor, the ranger, e settler, and those generally, who, if given little knowledge of Mines and Mining, might mduced to turn that knowledge to practical count. 4 PREFACE. The first part proper, deals with rocks, gv ing a general idea of how they are form( and altered, and how mineral deposits of valii to commerce occur in them, with the nami and characters of rocks commonly met with j| mining sections. The third part sketches the means eo ployed to determine, or identify, the different or and minerals, with a list of all known elemen] and their symbols. Part four contains a description of eac, of the ores of the metals, of use as such in the art) with a knowledge of how they are tested J simple means, and the methods employed j their treatment on a commercial scale. f The fifth section describes non-metallic mij erals; or those used for purposes other than tL extraction of their metals ; as at present utilize] and contains also, a concise description of tl various gems and precious stones, and hoi they may be identified. The last section is a medley of facts, ar. hints, on various matters likely to interest an] one engaged in mining, or desirous of becomir so, and there follows a very complete glossafl confined to mining terms and phraseology. W. THOS. N^WMAnI Toronto, December 31st, 1894 CONTENTS. NEWMAN PABT I. Introductory. ""agk- Importance of exploring for Metals. Pros- pectors as a Class. How Mines grow. Where hidden wealth lies... 9-12 PABT II. koCK FORMATIONS AND ORE DEPOSITS. Necessity of a knowledge of rocks, not neces- sarily a scientific knowledge. How rocks are made. Stratified rocks. Metamorphic rocks. Eruptive rocks. Likely formations to contain Metal. How ores are deposited. Vein. ;Mid other ore bodies. The vein that pays, uon- bearing rocks. Names and descriptions of rocks usually found in metal mining sections ' 13.23 PART in. |ow TO Distinguish Ores. Trials of Hardness; Streak; Tenacity; Mag- netism; Specific Gravity; Crystallization; Simple uses of the Blowpipe. Explanatory notes List of Elements, with symbols, and atomic weights 24-34 'i 'f -hi O CONTENTS. PART IV. DESCRIPTIONS OF NATIVE METALS AND ORES Gold ; how found and extracted. Antimony ores; how to test them. Silver ores; and their treatment. Lead ores ; with their commercial value. Platinum; its chief characteristics. Mercury; where found. Copper ores; their value and treatment. Zinc ores ; and associa- tions. Nickel and Cobalt ores. Tin ores; and formations found in. Bismuth. Cadmium. Iron Ores, with their various uses. Manganese ores, and how useful. Molybdenite ; how dis- tinguished. Graphite (Blacklead). Tellurium. Rare Metals 35-7! PART V. OTHER MINERALS OF COMMERCIAL VALUE Aluminium. Bauxite. Alum Shale. Cryolite. Orthoclase. Kaolin, or China Clay. Fire Clay. Potter's Clay. Marl. Meerschaum. Asbestos. Actinolite. Manganese Spar. Fluorspar. Apa- tite. Gypsum. Marble. Lithographic Lime- stone. Hydraulic Limestone. Heavy Spar. Rock Salt. Soapstone. Monazite. Common Mica. Lithia Mica. Sulphur. Phosphorus. Arsenic. Natural Gas. Coal. Peat. Petroleum. Asphaltum. "Mineral Wool." Pitchblende. Natural Paints. Infusorial Earth. Amber.. 74- PRECIOUS STONES Diamond. Sapphire. Emerald. Opal. Gar- net. Zircon. Quartz Gems. Rutile 91- CONTENTS. , PART VI. Practical Pointers Error in rejecting samples. How to select samples for assay. The Chemist's information not sufficient. Prospector's "Kit." Samples for comparison. Describing a prospect. Cost of Railway. How to obtain capital. Choosing a route. What to do on making a discovery When Mining should begin. The proper way to develop. The diamond drill. Selling small lots of ore. Essentials to successful mining Risks of the business. The investor in stocks. Measures of ores, earth, etc.; how they are computed. Relative weights of metals. Weights and volumes of ordinary metals. Water re- quired for quartzmiUing. To calculate the water-power of a stream. To temper steel To solder, or weld. To case-harden. Table of melting points of metals. Weight and value of wood as fuel. Common alloys. Cement for cast-iron. Approximate cost of mining and treating ores, and of machinery 100-128 I A complete glossary of mining terms i29_i38 General Index.. . 139-145 »Wi'T i Vri T ., -* >.-.^-~ .,-_ • 1 ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE I " ^«AT IS THERE IN IT ?•• FRONTISPIECE | Section OF Rock Formation 231 Cuts of Pans A "Dolly" 39 1 A Banded Vein Hidden Placer ^^ . Galena Veins ^^,, •'••••• ••••••••X U^ I Shafts, Adits and Levels of Beaver Silver Mine. . . loci " Hard Luck " Mine . . io8| The Diamond Drill Core-Bit n^i Drilling _. , , '^41 PART I. PROSPECTING AND PROSPECTORS. To one who has any taste for the freedom ,nd sport of the untrodden wilderness, ai the me, ever-changing delights of "Nature un- PAGKgefiled" (and who has not, then is his taste per- .. Frontispiece 1^'^^^^); every day of exploring brings its quota m enjoyment, hope springs eternal, the hardest ^gfcbor brings with it such added health and 3g|trength as make it a pleasure, and the explorer gjt sixty, is as young in heart and feeling, as lo m^ oJ^dmary business man at forty. 104 1 ^" "o other way, and in no other business, LVERMiNE...io6f n fortunes be made, which in the making losr^^ssarily enrich the community at the same "^l"^' ^^^ ^" "° °*^^^ caning can fortune he jj^ Jahzed in a day, without causing misery and ss to others. When the successful prospector finds a valu- le mine, he at once adds the present value of e find, to the wealth of the nation. When converts that mine into the medium of ex- ange which supplies his wants, and receives ssibly a large sum therefore, he gives value - what he receives, and may enjoy his gains 1 a clear conscience. The opening of mines lO prospectors' peculiarities in any locality, means a direct and lasting bene! fit to all the dwellers the»-ein; to the laborer- work, and good wages; to the farmer — an adde( market; therefore, the business of searching fol and developing mines, is an honorable one, an(j the prospector takes rank as a public benefactorl Prospectors are, as a rule, unusually activj men, both mentally and physically, and harj workers when in the field. The greatest troubll with the majority of them is this: — they arj attacked by a disease commonly called "swellet head." The symptoms are the same in eac case, the victim all at once, seems to be inj pressed with the mistaken idea, that each an every vein or deposit, found by himself^ mwi necessarily be of immense value, and that fortune is due the finder forthwith, nay ; in mani cases the discoverer seems to become firmf and honestly imbued with the idea, that he already in indisputable possession of millionj and no amount of argument, or reasoning his friends, can dispossess him of this hallij cination, while ofttimes, his friends seem al to share his delusion. Nothing, apparently, ca| cure this disease, save only, the remedy used the mad canine — cutting off his tail close his ears — and this, financially interpreted, is whj cures the majority. They continue in their coj ceit until, weary experience and a growing sc£ :ITIES NEVER REFUSE A CASH OFFER H nd lasting bene the laborer— :ity of cash, teaches them that their wealth, which may in a sense be genuine enough) is The truth is, not one find in one hundred is vorth more than it cost, until hundreds, and )ften thousands, of dollars be spent on its ex- loitation. The prospector who understands his business, ill never refuse a cash offer for his prospect, received before proper development) if the same e sufficient to reward him for his time and abor. Everyone who has had any experience of respecting, and handling mining prospects, will ecognize the truth of the saying, "that anyone nay find a mine, but it takes a clever man to h, nay; in man|eii j^," and as the business of mining becomes become firni«ach year more universally understood, it will ecome more and more essential, that prospects ie developed into mines before they can be isposed of to the satisfaction of the prospector, hose expectations are always in advance of ny possible realization. In searching for gold r other mines, it is well to remember, that the rst requisite is quantity. New processes and nproved machinery, tend to closer saving and erpreted, is wh J^ore economical work, and what is desired to- ^nue in their cojay is large bodies of low grade or . Many a a growing scaj^jne is paying dividends at the present time, >f searching fo orable one, am ablic benefactor inusually activ :ally, and har greatest troubl this: — they ar called "swelle i same in eac eems to be in , that each an y himself y mu le, and that idea, that he ion of million DX reasoning 1 of this hall lends seem ai apparently, c remedy used lis tail close I'-?'' 1 i. /( ■ --.Tfr-rp,- t i 12 HOW MINES GROW. that a few years ago could not be worked aj all, because the ore was of too low grade to be profitably treated by the methods and appliance^ then in use. Every year is liable to see th( tendency in this direction grow, and therefore deposits of low grade ore should be carefullJ looked after. The chemist, and the scientific mechanic are constantly finding new uses for different matel rials. That which is worthless to-day, ma)! The )r mir tnowle [liem; i /hat c( It d commercially, be very valuable to-morrow, anc sdge o as all these materials must come from the earth each new appliance, or new application, becomes a matter of interest to all who deal with minerals Unlike most deposits of wealth, a mine grow larger the more it is used, and more valuable as the value is taken from it, and in this con nection there is a hint to prospectors. Most in dividuals of this class develop the roaming ognizec habits of gypsies, and with this a propensity foi 'to thr seeing riches a long distance away, much bettei > their than in the immediate neighborhood. There i hich ] uch a ble. lineral lanner 'here £ iree 1: no better prospecting field anywhere, than ir le vari the immediate surroundings of proved mines arying where there is untried ground. Right under th( ^ch ch, feet of those who follow beaten paths, whicl ^eir ap have been walked over for years, lies "bidder > grad wealth." Rod id fas has, G be worked a )w grade to bi and appliance! ble to see the and therefore d be carefull) r mechanic an different mate to-day, maj PART II. ROCK FORMATION AND ORE DEPOSITS. The first requisite to success, in searching or mineral deposits of commercial value, is a :nowledge of what rocks are likely to have in liem; mines containing certain ores, and under ^hat conditions the ore occurs, in these rocks. It does not follow, that a scientific know- :o-morrow, anc sdge of the names, or chemical constituents of from the earth '-'-' ' ^ . . ' ration, becomes I with minerals I, a mine grow nore valuable i in this con ors. Most in y, much bette ood. There i rhere, than i proved mines light under th paths, whic •, lies "hidde /hich rocks are formed, is necessary; although uch an education is very desirable and valu- ble. To be able to recognize the rocks and inerals on sight, and a general knowledge of the lanner in which they occur, is of greater value, 'here are between two hundred and fifty and ^ree hundred distinct kinds of rocks; re- the roaming ognized md named by petrologists, and divided propensity foi »to three classes, as explained below; according 17 mnrVi ht^i-i-(^M> their Origin. * Rocks are seldom definite compounds, but e various minerals are distributed in them in rying proportions, and in endless combinations ch change making more or less difference in eir appearance; and one rock often changes gradually into another kind, that no hard 1 fast lines can be drawn between them. Js, Granite will in a fev/ yards become Gneiss I'll H ROCK FORMATION. and the Gneiss in turn give way to Mica Schistj or some other rock, and so on. The formation of rocks is going on continii ously. The action of rain, frost, and many othej agents of destruction, is slowly, but constantlJ wearing away the existing Rocks; the erodec material, (sand, clay, and vegetable mattej picked up en route), being carried down bj water and ice, ground finer and finer as ij goes, until it reaches still water, and is depos] ited, in more or less irregular shapes. The water of a river flowing into the Ocean! for instance, is constantly bringing down witl it, particles of all kinds of matter, some floatim with the currents, others in actual chemica] solution. On arriving at the Ocean, and al along the route, these atoms are deposited ii endless combinations, those of highest specifil gravity, being generally the first to drop, tlJ lighter being carried further on. The Mineral in solution, mingling with others in the sal water, are some of them precipitated and help t| bind the rest. The currents of the Ocean, are also carr}] ing their share, perhaps, lime from the Cora Islands. Again the Ocean is continually ei| croaching on its shores, whole sections of th| shore line disappearing in a few years, or evej months, the loosened material being carried oj METAMORPHIC ROCKS. 15 to Mica Schist be deposited, in varying forms elsewhere, his process going on without intermission, day iter day, year after year, results in layers of emendous thickness being formed, great pressure developed, and in course of time, the whole soHdified into a series of massive beds. These beds, or layers, form what are called :ie Sedimentary Rocks. They consist of Lime- itones. Sandstones, Conglomerates, etc., as they re formed from shells and corals; sand; or ioulders and gravel. These lie in alternate yers called Strata. Other Rocks have been ejected from great epths in a fused state, and in most cases have |ooled very slowly. These are called Igneous, ir Eruptive Rocks. They are probably formed om original Rocks, which have been melted iy subterraneous heat, and have been forced up ly gases under enormous pressure, through fis- |ures, formed by the expansion of the gases nding the crust. Trap Dykes, and Granites, are of this origin. In many cases, over large areas, the whole |f the Sedimentary Rocks have undergone great anges, and have been perfectly or partially •ystallized. These are called Metamorphic ocks. The change is due to heat, which was ot great enough to cause fusion, but which, as probably continued for ages. |j il' .1 ! r J t II 'I'irjrin-niMTi-iMM i6 ORE DEPOSITS — VEINS. n I These rocks are generally much contortec and fractured, and the fissures have been fillej by the action of heated vapors, or heated springs holding metals in solution, and by condensatioi and Evaporation, and perhaps electrolytic action] dropping their contents; or by ejection of molteij matter from below. Thus these rocks mor] often contain deposits of the metals of Commerce than rocks of another origin. This brings ui naturally to sections of rocky country likely tj contain mines. Where a section shows the rocks to havj been much disturbed, and tilted at all angles] where Trap Dykes, and Quartz, and Spar Veins are frequently met with; there, the prospectoj may hope to succeed. The soft, schistose charl acter, of the rock in places is favorable. / discoloration, or burnt appearance, is generallj caused by the decomposition of mineral in thl rock, and most deposits of metal, are more o] less softened and rotted on the surface, the del composed matter being known as Gossan; (iroJ oxide). Ore deposits, may be divided into four kinds, according to their modes of occurrence. Thes] are called veins or lodes; pockets, placers, anj beds, and veins occur also of four kinds. Veins are most frequently met with, and arj known as: Fissure Veins; (often called true veins] pockets; placers. „ These are cracks or fissures, caused by the >ntract.o„ of the Earth's surface, or by the arstuig of the crust from internal pressure [hey cut right through different strata at any hgle, frequently at right angles to the strike • near^ so. Contact Veins; these run with >e s rike but between two distinct formations ZZ'V T'^"'" «-" Veins; are veins >ually of small extent, surrounded and termin- Nd on all s:des by the same formation, and lequently are filled with galena. A Vein also, sometimes consists, of a number small yems or stringers, running parallel to Id at all angles with one another, with rock ^tween which holds pockets of ore, and which sometimes impregnated with ore. This is lied a Stockwerke. Occasionally a vein will I found lying in a horizontal position and is |en known as a " blanket " vein. Pockets; are masses of ore of any size, from few tons upward, more or less as may happen, (ually unconnected with each other, though ►en on the same strike, and sometimes con- |cted by small seams, and indications of ore. Placers; are deposits of gravel carrying .e metal; generally applied to gold diggings. ' Sometimes secondary deposits occur, as for ample Bog ores; these are spread out a foot ! i i- i8 THE VEIN THAT PAYS. or two deep, over larger or smaller areas, ani may be called Beds. •n a vein is considered by miners, more likelj to be permanent, and productive, if the wallsj and especially the footwall, be separated froii the vein matter, distinctly, by a soft talcosj casing or gossan, or by clay, (called the selvage, and a contact vein also, is likely to be permanent Deep mining shows, that veins continue prettj much the same beiow, as they appear on the sur face, where the surface can be studied for sonij distance, although the metal contents or tli gangue, may vary considerably. Often a vein, iiij proves in richness as it is followed down, and p. ticularly is this the case on first working, anl down to the point of saturation, viz.: — the distant to which surface water has been able to penetratj which may be five or ten fathoms. Veins, an often enriched at the point of corttact where twj veins meet, or where the vein is cut by a Traj Dyke. Also a vein that is poor or barren whij cutting one formation will sometimes pro| productive where it intersects another kind Rock. Many veins contain their value in whj is known as a " paystreak," the ore being band in the vein, sometimes in the centre, som| times on one side. While rich ores are much sought after, larjl quantities of low grade pay best. IRON BEARING ROCKS. 19 Her areas, an( aght after, lary Iron bearing rocks are, preferably, the oldest geological formations, the ore beds being thicker, ind larger, in these rocks. Mica, or hornblende bneiss, or schists, sometimes with a crystal- line limestone band on one side, is the most ikely formation for iron ore, for manufacture Into the metal, and the beds are usually con- |[ormable to the strike and dip. The cleavable varieties and Ironstones, are found however, in )oth the Crystalline and Stratified Rocks. The distance from the centre of the Earth to the surface is equal to 3,956 miles. In comparison our highest mountains are merely Insignificant ant-hills; our grandest canons but plough furrows. The temperature is constant |he year round, at about one hundred feet in iepth, and at lower levels invariably increases ibout 1^ Fah. for each 60 feet of descent, to he limited depth reached in ordinary mining. VARIOUS ROCKS OP ORDINARY OCCURRENCE LRGILI.ITES: Clayslates, breaking into thin even slabs. [conglomerates: Any rock composed of coarse fragments, or pebbles, cemented together. When these are angular it is called ; a breccia. When the fragments are rounded ; a PUDDINGSTONE. 20 tmJtfJL: DliSCRIPTIONS OF KOCKS. Soft, white limestone. Red "cliaik" sc called; is clayey oxide of Iron. Frencll "chalk" is a soapstone. CHERT: Flint or Hornstone, occurring as nodulej in Limestone. DOLOMITE : Carbonate of lime, containing carhonati of magnesia ; strictly speaking, in equal proportions. Effervesces in acid on heatir.g| DIORITE: Triclinic feldspar, and hornblende, witll or without quartz. A tough rock, lighf gray, to blackish green in color. — Eruptive! OOLERITE: (Basalt, Trap.) Coarse grained. Color dark green to brownish black. — Eruptive.! GRANITE: Quartz, Feldspar and Mica, with no apl pearance of layers or cleavage, ur-rd fol monuments, etc., taking a fine polish Eruptive. GNEISS: Like Granite, but in layers, used for build| ing flagstones, etc. — Metamorphic. GAe^isX^ *- :'c9V able L bradorite; (Lime-soda Fel( DESCRIPTIONS OF ROCKS. 31 ime-soda Feldl spar) and Pyroxene. Color, dull red, gray to black ; of Igneous origin. ^YDROMiCA SCHIS T.- Green to white in color; sometimes dark gray; and -oft. Hydrous Mica often with quarlz. Foliated, splitting mto thin wedge shapes. Smooth greasy surface, and pearly lustre. PACOLUMYTE: Flexible Sandstone— a schistose granula. quartz with mica or talc. (Diamond bearing in Brazil.) LSPER: A flinty quartz of dull red, yellow, or green color, and breaking smooth like flint. IMESTONE : Carbonate of Lime, or Calcite ; generally contains some clay or sand. Color, cream or nearly white; blue, brown, and black. Usually contains fossils. Crystalline lime- stone forms the various marbles. Effer- vc-.cs with a drop of hydrochloric acid. Sedimentary; or ifcrystalhne; metamorphic. |ICA SCHIST: Mostly Mica, with much quartz and some Feldspar. Divides easily into wedge- shaped slabs. Color, from silvery to black. Crumbles readily. Metamorphic. <^^,i HI -' '4 Ml! I I ! II 1 / I i(M 22 DESCRIPTIONS OF ROCKS. PORPHYRY: A massive rock, showing crystals distin( from the matrix. QUARTZITE: Indurated Sandstone; that is, composcj of quartz, but not showing grains. SANDSTONE : Merely a solidified bed of sand, generallj quartz sand, sometimes contains micc clay or fossils. Used for grindstones; build| ing, etc. SERPENTINE: Massive, easily cut with a knife, an| greasy to the touch. Dark green, tj yellowish, and mottled. Composed silicateof magnesia, and a little iron. Takt a high polish, and is called "marble." STE ATITE-SOAPSTONE : Consists of Talc. Massive. Gray to green and white. SYENITE : A rock composed of Hornblende, anj •P>ldspar without quartz. Flesh colore] or grayish white. TALCOSE SCHIST : Slaty Talc. Mica Schist is often mistake! for Talcose Schist, but does not contaif Talc. The common term for, basic Igneous rockj Feels soapJ 3CKS. SECTION OF ROCK FORMATION. 23 crystals distinc lat is, compose(| ; grains. f sand, general]] contains micc rindstones; buildl li a knife, an| Dark green. Composed little iron. Takt i "marble." e. Feels soapJ Igneous rocks frequently overflow, on the sur- ice, but sometimes the fluid matter does not leach the open, until by the erosion, or planing jway of the overlying strata, it is exposed, ap- bearmg often as a chimney. Faults, veins, tilting |nd all such phenomena are purely accidents on [ornblende, an] Flesh colore! s often mistakel loes not contai c Igneous rocki Scale, 1,000 feet = l inch, a. -Crystalline limestone. c— Limestone, e.— TraD over- flow. t. -Sates. F -Quartzite. o.-Granite (Eruptive) m - P'""rd' Ve n'^'TP^'"?- v^-\'."*^''.T^'"'^^- ^- Contact V^ein. J.— 2nd Vein. L.— ist Vem. V. — Nev/est Vein. (chagramniatic.) X. — Stringer large scale. An idea of their occurrence may |e had by supposing a confined heap, composed |f alternate layers of sand, gravel and clay, to cive a body of quicklime in the centre and the |me to become mixed with water. The effect I'ould be to fissure the heap in all directions, and ause portions to be lifted bodily, while otlier arts would naturally fall m, and the slaked liquid me would fill all crevices. .11 •: ': ''1 PART III. HOW TO DISTINGUISH ORES. Qualitative Analysis : — is the determinatior of the elements contained in an ore or mineral] and shows what the different ingredients are| but does not show the amount of each. Quantitative Analysis: — shows not only im nature of a compound, but also the amount, oij percentage, of each constituent. The ores of the metals are distinguished! and recognized, by their hkrdness; color; streak] lustre; malleability; specific gravity ; crystallizj ation ; and chemical reactions ; minerals having a definite chemical composition. The first fiv^ tests, are those which are of most practical us| to the prospector, and most easily made in th{ fields. Hardness: — This quality is particularly use! ful, in distinguishing many ores, (such as Coppel Pyrites from Iron) and in deciding the possiblj value, of pebbles as gems, and many non-metallil minerals. This is the quality of resisting abraj sion, not resistance to blows. The scale runj from I (represented by Talc); to lo (representeii by the Diamond). SCALE OF HARDNESS. 25 I SCALE OF HARDNESS. 1. Foliated Talc. 2. Selenite. 3. Calcite. 4. Fluorite. 5. Apatite. [6. Feldspar. chapman's scale. Yield nail s easily to the fin'^er 2. Does not yield to nail, or scratch a copper coin. 3. Scratches a coin, but is also scratched by coin. 4. Not scratched by coin, and will not scratch window glass. 5. Scratches glass feebly; easily cut by a knife. 6. Scratches glass easily, and is hard to cut with a knife. 7. Cannot be cut by a knife. Harder than flint or quartz. Quartz. ^. Topaz. ■ Corundum. . Diamond. Color r—This is readily seen by daylight, and k terms used to designate it are metallic: as lad-gray; iron-black; etc., non-metallic: as blue, |uish ; gray, grayish ; etc., etc. All ores showing fight red, blue or green colors externally, should ^ imined carefully. extern da I --v^m I.HC cAiernai color, and a Ice that has been scratched, should be sur- ex- ir 26 HOW ORES ARE TESTED. I ! amined. The latter is called the streak, anc frequently shows a marked difference from tli^ outside color. This is best examined by drawl ing a small three cornered file across the samplej and then across the thumb, or on a streak-platt Malleability: — This is the quality of bein^ flattened out under the hammer without break! ing. As a rule, any ore that is soft, and easilj cut, is likely to be of value, and if it will stanij being hammered out, it is valuable. Also mineral is said to be brittle, when easily broken! or sectile, when it can be sliced with a knifej Lustre : — The property of reflecting light, ol shining. The kinds of lustre are: — vitreous ol stoney; metallic; pearly; silky; resinous (or lik| gum) ; adamantine. Many ores tarnish on exposure, and thil serves, in some cases as a guide, in determininj the ore. DiAPHANiETY : — The property of allowing ligl] to pass through, as ; transparent, when an objec is distinctly seen through the substance ; trans lucent, when light is transmitted but objects arj not seen. Specific Gravity : — Is the weight of a piec| of mineral compared with an equal bulk of pun water, which is taken as a standard. This difficult to ascertain in the woods, requiring ;:.! 1 !■'■ HOW ORES ARE TESTED. 27 Jelicate balance. Weigh a small piece of mineral In the ordinary manner, and then suspend it b}' hair, in distilled water at 60" and weigh again, [iibtract the second weight from the first, and livide the first by the difference — result is Sp. Usually the weight of a substance is a good l^uide to the amount of metal contained in it. Magnetism : — Many ores are more or less Magnetic. Black Iron ore (Lodestone) is con- jidered to be the only one having decided attrac- lion, but Nickeliferous Pyrrhotite is sometimes lo magnetic as to form a perfect natural com- kss. Some minerals will only attract the needle jfter being heated, the iron in these being |hanged to the magnetic oxide by ignition. Crystallization: — While Form and Structure Ire of great service in the determination of liinerals, crystallography is a complete study itself, and does not fall within the scope of ns work. Those who desire to pursue the study If mineralogy, should procure a copy, of the Manual of Mineralogy and Lithology, by Pro- 2ssor James D. Dana, or the larger work: A lew System of Mineralogy by Messrs. J. D. Ind E. S. Dana. The list in the following chapter, comprises lost of the ores, from which metals are obtained )r commercial purposes, at present, with the jxception of those used in small quantities, or h .(■ '^^H '' * '^H ^ "^^^H ■1 1 ^H : ■ 1 i ^^H 1 in ip 28 THE BLOWPIPE. i! i ml for other reasons, not of much interest to tlif ordinary prospector or business man. Although the amount of metal in ptire ore, i^ given, practically ores are never found sufficient!] free from impurities, to come up to the propeij standards and due allowance should be madej The specific gravity varies accordingly. Note, that very few ores, look in the leas| like the metal they contain, even the nativi metals in a natural condition being tarnishec and often alloyed. A drop of Hydrochloric Acid serves to disj tinguish a carbonate, by causing an efFervescencej but not always, without heating the substancej during the test. The Blowpipe : — This is a most useful aic in determining the different minerals. A briel description only, need be attempted here. Those who desire to follow up the hints given, ar^ referred to Professor Chapman's " Blowpipi Practice " a standard work on the Blowpipe. The essentials are; a blowpipe, (which i^ merely a tapered tube ending in a very small orifice, by which the flame of a spirit lamp, oij candle, may be concentrated on a minute quanl tity of the substance to be examined, in powder pieces of charcoal; grease lamp; spirit lamp; alcohol ; borax • carbonate of soda ; platinum anc i'l. BLOWPIPE TRIALS. 29 Iron wir,e; bone-ash, a few pieces of glass tube [about J inch in diameter,) and a pair of small )ointed forceps. The Blowpipe may be had from any jeweler, little practice, is necessary to maintain a ^teady stream of air from the mouth. In making most tests the mineral is powdered md laid, either with, or without, an excess of ^oda, in a hollow in a piece of firm charcoal. The substance proves infusible, or fuses without aelding metal, sometimes vaporizes entirely, md again, leaves a coating on the charcoal, or globule of metal. The flame, in some cases Is tinged various colors, by different minerals, [this should be noted against a dark back- ground.) The coating or deposit left varies for different ninerals and the colors change as the support :ools. These deposits are best examined on a smooth piece of plaster of paris, used in place of the charcoal. To test for water, place a little powdered nineral in the lower end of a test tube, (closed it one end) and heat ; the moisture if any, will )e found condensed at the upper part. A piece of mineral the size of a pin head, is ^leld in the forceps to try the fusibility. Sulphur, Arsenic, and Selenium compounds, 30 THE MICROSCOPE. III 11 I li! ii 1 ill give off their peculiar odors. Arsenic smelh like garlic. Selenium, like decaying horseradisiil To detect Sulphur, moisten a little mineral] and soda into a paste; fuse and place on a silver coin. The sulphur, if present, will stain| the coin black. Gold, Silver, Copper, Tin, and Lead; yielci| malleable beads, either with or without soda. Platinum, Iron, Nickel, and Cobalt, givel infusible metallic grains. Bismuth and Antimony, brittle beads, with deposit. Mercury, Cadmium and Zinc, are volatilized, the two latter leaving] heavy sublimates. Manganese colors a bead of borax, (formed on platinum wire (No. 27); by making a small loop on one end and fusing the borax into it, and then taking up a very small particle of ore;) af violet color. Chromium, a green color, Strontia, and Lithia, color the flame, deepl carmine red. The Microscope.— By an examination ofl very thin slices of rock under the microscope, the presence, or absence, of many minerals is ascertained. The word Macroscopic is used to signify an examination, made without the use| of the microscope, or with only a pocket lens. The following abbreviations are used through- out this work: BB.=Before the Blowpipe. H. =Hardness. G.=Specific Gravity. LIST OF ELEMENTS. 31 Arsenic smell; ing Iiorseradishj a little mineral nd place on al sent, will staiiil rax, (formed on ig a small loop X into it, andj icie of ore;) a :olor. e flame, deep! The following table contains all the elements [t present known to the chemist, and all are )und in minerals. The atomic weights indicate Ihe proportions in which they combine chemi- I'dWy. The symbols are the abbreviations, used In stating the composition in all text-books. LIST OF KLEMENTS, WITH THEIR SYMBOLS, AND ATOMIC WEIGHTS. duminium Al. 27. intimony Sb. 120. irsenic As. 74.9 Jarium Ba. 137. lieryllium Be. g.i Bismuth Bi. 207.5 poron B. 10.9 I^romine Br. 79.8 Cadmium Cd. 11 1.7 'aesium Cs. 58.7 Calcium Ca. 39.9 Carbon C. 12. ICerium Ce. 141. jChlorine CI. 35.4 IChromium Cr. 52.5 [Cobalt Co. 58.7 jColumbium (see Niobium.) ICopper Cu. 63.2 iDidymium Di. 142. Erbium Er. 166. Fluorine F. 19. i Gallium Ga. 69.9 I Germanium Ge. 73.3 I Glucinum (see Beryllium.) Gold Au. 196.7 Hydrogen H. Indium In. Iodine I. Iridium Ir. Iron Fe. Lanthanum . .... La. I. II3-4 126.5 192.5 55-9 138. Lead Pb. 206.4 Lithium Li. 7. Magnesium Mg. 24. Manganese Mn. 54.8 Mercury Hg. 199.8 Molybdenum .... Mo. 96. Nickel Ni. 58.6 Niobium Nb. 93.7 Nitrogen N. 14. Osmium Os. 191 . Oxygen O. 16. Palladium Pd. 106.2 Phosphorus P. 31. Platinum Pt. 194.3 Potassium K. 39. Rhodium Rh. 104. i Rubidium Rb. 85.2 Ruthenium Ru. 103.5 Scandium Sc. 44. ill 32 li! It ACID AND BASIC KOCKS. Selenium Se. 78.9 Silicon Si 28. Silver Ag. 107.7 Sodium Na. 2? Strontium Sr. 87 1 Sulphur s. 32 Tantalum fa. 182 Tellurium Te. 125. Thallium ri. 203.7 Thorium ........ Th. 232. Tin Sn. 1,7 Titanium ji. 48 Tungsten VV. 18311 ^^"■anium U. 240 Vanad. -m y. 51 Ytterbium Yt. 172 Yttrium Y. 89 ^'"c z„ g.j Zirconium Zr. 90 I The cliem.st groups the various ores, acconi, ing to their chemical characters, as: Sulphides Arsenides; Borates; Carbonates; etc. As thiJ work IS intended, primarily, for the use of miners and business men, who are only inter-j ested, in the commercially valuable substances the ores contain, and care nothing aLout other constituents, save as they may aftect those values] 1 have grouped each under the head of the metal or other valuable ingredient, and iiave considered it better, also, to leave out any special mention of the undesired contents of the ore, except where the same affects the com- mercial value. Acid rocks, or slags; are those which con-i tain a high percentage of free silica ; (60 to 80 per cent ) Basic; those slags, or rocks, which contam httle (not more than 45 or 50 per cent.) or no sihca, in a free state. In smelting, those! ores which contain a very large percentage of! miners' mineralogy. 33 Jlica, require to be neutralized, by mixing an pali (such as limestone) in the furnace, while with jasic ores, the opposite course, is pursued. Miners call any mineral substance found in |ature, which yields anything of commercial due, an ore. While, speaking mineralogically, ialena is always a lead ore, when rich in silver, J>e miner calls it a silver ore. More properly |res are a combination of one or more metals, :alled in this connection bases) with one, or ,ore acids, or mineralizing agents; — thus: Galena lonsists of 86.6 per cent, of lead, with 13.4 jer cent, of the acid sulphur. Very often, this associated with some silver-sulphide, and [gain may contain zinc sulphide, or the ore bay be a mixture of the above, with sulphides Jf copper, and iron. Again, we have iron in le form of a sulphide, ( Magnetic Pyrites, [r Pyrrhotite) and also as a bisulphide, when is non-magnetic. In this latter case we have In ore, of which the valuable constituent, is [lie sulphur. Minerals are often rendered difficult to treat, rom the presence of some substance foreign to he ore, as for instance; a very small amount of itanic acid, in iron oxides; which will effectually )revent their being utilized as a source of the jnetal by present processes. The presence of Irsenic, replacing sulphur, in gold ores which I 34 S: ^■'i: '15 DELETERIOUS SUBSTANCES. carry considerable quantities of iron ; renders th,,, htal le. Antimony and Zinc are frequently ver troublesome. The presence of these mLn.l causes the quicksilver to "flour," or "sicken, in which condition a coating forms over it ,•,, prevents the gold from amalgamating, thJ causing a loss of more or less metal n tl, tailings. In testing any ore by the means here out! lined make the trials in the order mentioned and allow a margin for slight variations, whir/ will he found to exist almost invariably, even m samples from the same vein, blown out together With the description of the ores will be founc the simplest test or tests known, to distinguisl, or Identify each, but they will only serve the purpose intended, when mixed with a sufficien portion of common sense. f: : PART IV. NATIVE MKTALS AND ORES. GOLD. One cubic foot of Gold is worth, $363,561.96. Itaiuiard gold or silver, equals 900 parts of pure jietal, and 100 of alloy, in 1,000 parts of coin. The largest nugget of gold ever found was Ballarat, Australia, in June, 1858. It was X9 inches; weighed 2,166 ounces, and con- lined $41,883 value of gold. Pure Gold is estimated at 24 carats fine. ?hus gold having one twenty-fourth part copper, |r silver, would be 23 carat gold. Equal parts rold and another metal, would be 12 carat rold. All native gold, contains more or less lilver, and sometimes other metals. Average |f Canadian: between 85 and 90: Californian, f7 and 89: Australian, 90 and 96 per cent. gold. Crystallizes in the isometric system, but |:rystals are seldom found. Color: — Is the only, yellow^ malleable, min- eral found in a natural state. Many minerals, feuch as Pyrites, are mistaken for gold, but gold leed never be mistaken for anything else. H.=: J. G.=:i9.3.; varying with amount of alloy. . gives malleable bead. Is not touched by i'!f: ii * I ; ^^^^^H , . :,ri,"liliJ HI I - ■ 1 ii ^^^^1 ^^H. . ^^^^1 g 1 36 SEARCHING FOR GOLD. simple acids, but dissolves in Aqua Regia, whic consists of one-fourth nitric to three-fourths hydrc chloric acid. Gold also occurs as a Telluride (combine] with Tellurium); sometimes of a bronze-yellov color, and again of a lead-gray color. In searching for gold, examine first the gravt, bars, and the holes in the rocks, forming thj beds of streams. Never waste time in lookim in the upper part, of the gravel hed,~get dowi to the bottom. If the gold is there at all, tha IS where it will be found, along with platinum iridosmme, magnetite, pyrite, copper ores, blende zircon, heavy spar, monazite, and various crystals Carry with you a bottle of quicksilver. AfteJ pickmg out the coarse pebbles (carefully examininl some of them by breaking them), place a shovel of the finer stuff, in a shallow circular pan; FOR GRAVEL. poR QUARTZ. TTTT/ i Scale, 1 inch = l foot. I iJ!hl ^^%^'^'' ^"'? «hape for a "pan" is shown in the cuts. Fie. I IS the ordmary miner's pan for gravel washing. Fig. 2 is made of wood, or iron ena.neled white, and is better fo^ quarfz. (a frying pan, free from grease, will do very] well, on a pinch) and with a circular swing, wash. it with water. A little practice will enable anyone! to retain the finer, heavier, sand, and allow the /':! WASHING GOLD GRAVEL. 37 Ighter coarse stuff, to slip over the edge of the Ian into the stream. When nothing remains, lut a little black sand, examine with pocket ins for colors of gold, then put in another shovel If gravel, and repeat the process. Finally, after number of shovels of gravel, taken from as lany places as possible, have been so treated, lut in some quicksilver, and thoroughly shake nd rub the fines together, then pour the quick- lilver into a piece of buckskin, and squeeze it lirough the buckskin back into a clean dish, to \e returned to its bottle. Place the remainder In a shovel, and heat to redness. If you have nything malleable left it is gold, together with [ome silver, and any lead in the ore. Next examine all quartz veins. The softer |lie quartz in appearance, the better the chance )f its carrying gold. Though the writer has seen Specimens of quartz, as clear and hard looking IS glass, containing gold, it is a reasonable Iheory that when gold is present, it usually Interferes with the perfect crystallization of the [uartz. Quartz is called the " mother of gold," ind all gold, so far as known, is derived from [uartz veins. Those veins cutting talcose schists, )r clay slates, are the most favorable, rather than mica schist, or gneiss. The gold is frequently io fine, as to be invisible except to a powerful [microscope. k "! 4 •i -I I i l: ^Ml ^ 1 i MM ' III |ii; ilif- i '■■■ !u i; 38 TRYING QUARTZ. A small pestle, and mortar, are necessary, crush the quartz to fine sand, which may I treated as above. Another and better method of trying quar is, to fill a piece of glass tubing, an inch i diameter, one-third full of the powdered roc and shake it well with quicksilver. This is ver convenient, and by marking the space occupie by a known weight of ore, a very close estimat may, after some practice, be made, of the qua tity of free milling gold, the quartz in a give vein carries. Or the ore may be dissolved i Aqua Regia, and a solution of copperas addec when the gold will be precipitated as a browi powder, which, on being rubbed, will show tli metal. Mica, and sulphide of iron, (Pyrite), are mos often mistaken for gold, but these are brittl minerals. In known gold bearing territory, it is advisabl( to have an assay, of the quartz of all well-defined persistent veins, as gold is frequently so fine, a to be invisible, even to a strong pocket lens. ''Gold is where you find it," is an old sayinf amongst miners, and no man may say it wil not be found in a given locality; where th( geological formations: subcrystalline slates, an schists ; occur. Very few veins carry visible gold, and they ' e seld lartz, senic, id am iry,) ( )ld, w isily a id eas Ap avel, le. F if h evelop The heap 1 uartz nown evice, very r A-( hook. WORKING A RICH REEF. 39 gold, and theJ [e seldom the most valuable. A free milling liartz, (by which is meant, an ore free from Isenic, or any other refractory substance, id amalgamating by simple contact with mer- iry,) carrying as low as $5.00 per ton, in )ld, will pay handsomely if the vein is large, isily accessible, the metal evenly distributed, id easily milled. A prospector should work a find of auriferous « ravel, to some extent, before offering it for de. He should sell a quartz lode, before working J, if he can find a purchaser, after sufficient levelopment to show it as a fair prospect. The following sketch shows a simple and )ieap means of working in a small way, a rich luartz lode, carrying coarse gold freely. It is Inown as a *' Dolly," and two men with this levice, will crush enough ore each week, to give very satisfactory "clean up" by Sunday. A -Cushion bars. B. - Hollowed block. C— Sluices. D.— Chain- hook. E.— Spring pole. F.— Dolly. G.— Iron shoe. 40 HOW TO MAKE A ''DOLLY." 'I'l Mil mm a hollow basin in tlie top of a solid block o secnon of a log fir.ly planted on .he bank ;f , stream), s,x inches wide; fit in wrought iro bars, s,x inches long, one-half inch thick, thre >nches deep, and firmly secured. Cut away 1 por ,on of one side, to which attach a spouj leading over the higher end of a sluice-'bo stL7'n "":?' '' """''^'^ °" "'« '^°"°>". I" tiit tnf M%"' '^ "?°'' "•^ ''°"°'" ^"fficientlv «. n ay be, dump in some quartz, broken con, p..ratively small, "swing your Dolly," and tur - .nore water at intervals, as you gei -choked" witlf i'r/ '"'"'"^'' '"""'' °" ^y ''«"'', washing with a pan, or with a "cradle," (a small trough on rockers); or by the use of streams of water unde pressure, washing down the gravel, through sluices I his latter is called hydraulic mining ' Gold ores are treated in different ways in I all cases being first reduced b„ c grinding, to a fiL pulp • ' "'""'"^ °'^ cruswf"'"? ^'""""'""g; 'he ore is simply: crushed under stamps, wet, and the pulp is ' passed over copper plates, with surfaces covered with mercury. The gold attaches itself to he quicksilvered surface, in the form of ama^. that IS combined with quicksilver, and is scrfp ' >■€:. HOW GOLD IS EXTRACTED. 41 Iff at intervals, retorted to get rid of the mercury, |nd the residue melted into bars. In the Black Hills, with well arranged mills, [res carrying but $4.00 per ton are worked liiccessfuUy, and in California, under exception- lily favorable conditions, ores having but $1.00 If gold contents. The ore in this case being [uarried rather than mined. By panning, or horning down, a pulverized [ample the free gold may be seen, and by Imalgamating, by rubbing with quicksilver, you |nay judge if the ore be freemilling. Se:condly. — By concentration ; most gold ores jarry other minerals, sucli as the sulphurets of Iron and copper, or lead, also zinc, and some- limes tellurides, selenides, or antimonites, with in learly every instance more or less silver. In these cases the ore is concentrated, that is, the rock natter is got rid of by washing, and the sul- phurets obtained in a more or less "clean" state, ^or this purpose Frue vanner machines are :hiefly used, two old style, or one improved ^iiachine, being usually allowed to each battery )f five heavy stamps. The principle of the Frue vanner concentrating |niachine is, an endless rubber belt, four feet iwide, running up an incHned table, and dipping Ion the under side into a tank of water, where 42 REFINING CONCENTRATES. the mineral is washed off. At the head of tlii table jets of water, playing on the belt, wasl] back the lighter sand, and the water flowinc down the incline washes it away. In addition there is a steady shaking motion from side to side, or, at right angles, which materially assist] in the separation of the mineral from the gangueJ The concentrates can be sold to refininj companies, (the most profitable way, in mani cases), or may be further treated, and .he golt obtained by chlorination or smelting. In chlorination, the concentrates are placed,! after roasting, to expel sulphur, arsenic, etc.; irl gas-tight tubs, or barrels, holding two or three tons each, and chlorine gas is generated (by the introduction of chemicals; sulphuric acid, man ganese oxide, and salt,) which is allowed ti permeate the ore, and forms chlorides of gold, and silver. The metals are afterwards precipif tated separately, the solutions run off, the meta collected, dried, melted, and cast into bars. Or, the sulphide ores may be reduced hyl roasting, and amalgamating in pans, or Inl smelting direct. We have last year, to record another new process, which appears to be sue] cessful in treating mispickel ores ; namely, thosej carrying a great deal of arsenic. This is known| as the Carter-Walker process, by which the| ANTIMONY ORES. 43 Ire is roasted in closed chambers, the acids laved, and the gold obtained by vaporizing [iiercury. Colonel Harvey Beckwith, the widely known [xpert on gold mining and milling, makes a favorable report on this process, which may possibly solve the difficult problem, of how to jreat mispickel ores, carrying gold. ANTIMONY. This metal is used, chiefly, as an alloy. It |s a brittle silver-white metal obtained from its )res, which occur in the primary rocks, frequently ['/itli silver, lead, zinc, and iron ores. G =6.7. The ore from which most of the metal of pommerce is obtained, is the sulphide ; STIBNITE. GREY ANTIMOWY. Trimetric, commonly with fibrous appearance. :olor and streak, lead-gray. Lustre, shining. 'arnishes. Brittle. H.==2. G. =4. 5— 4.62. Con- tains 71.8 per cent, of afitimony; with 28.2 per :ent. of sulphur. B.B. Is volatilized, With dense |\vhite fumes. 7.1 cubic feot=one ton. This ore is soft, and will melt in the flame of a candle. |native. — Generally massive, occasionally in rhombohedral crystals. Color and streak, tin- jwhite. H.=3— 3.5. G. ==6.6— 6.75. Pure Anti- Imony; often with silver. B.B. volatili-^es, tinging *' t-^-g 44 SILVER ORES. tlie flame green, and leaving a heavy white deposit on charcoal. 4.8 cubic feet in one ton. Compounds of Antimony and Silver, are oftenl met with, and when rich in silver make a valuj able ore. SIIyV^R. Is a pure white metal, very ductile, harder] than gold, but softer than copper. G.^ 10.53. The ores of silver are found in rocks ot all geological ages, in any kind of vein beloJ the coal measures. The ores are of many dif- ferent kinds, and silver is found abundantly in| many other ores, sucli as lead, antimony, zinc, and copper ores. NATIVE SILVER— only, is white in color, amongl ores of silver, though dark and dull on the surface, and has streak, silver-white and shining. Often tarnished brownish-black. Malleable ; cut^s with knife. Occurs in octahedrons, arborescent! shapes, or massive. H.=^2— 3. G.=io.i— ii.i, Generally contains some copper, and sometimes] gold. B.B. gives malleable bead. ARGENTITE. SIIiVER GI.ANCE. In dodecahedrons, and modifications, or massive. I Color and streak, blackish lead-gray. Cuts with| knife, slightly malleable. H.=2— 2.5. G.=y- 7.4- Contains 87.1 percent, of silver, with 12.9J per cent, of sulphur. A valuable silver ore. SILVER ORES. 45 5.B. gives malleable head of silver. 4.4 ciii)ic |eet make one ton. »YRARGYRITE. OAKK RED SILVER ORE. Rhombohedral. Usually in crystals, some- Imies massive. Color, black to bright red. )treak, bright red. Lustre, brilliant. H.^:2— .5. G.=5.7 — 5.9. Contains 59.8 per cent, lilver; with 17.7 sulphur; and 22.5 per cent, of Intimony. Usually in crystals. B.B. gives bead jvith soda. 5.5 cubic feet weigh one ton. »ROUSTITE. lilGHT RED SIIiVER ORE. Like Pyrargyrite. G. -5.4— 5.56. Contains ^5.5 per cent, of silver; with the antimony re- )laced in part, or wholly, by arsenic. 5.8 cubic feet weigh one ton. 5TEPHANITE. BRITTLE BliAC'K SII.VER. Trimetric ; often in compound crystals, or iiassive. Color and streak, iron-black. H. = 2.5. ^6.27. Contains 68.5 per cent, of silver; t6.2 of sulphur; and 15,3 of antimony. B.B. jives bead with soda. 5 cubic ft. weigh one ton. Dissolved in weak nitric acid, will silver a )iece of clean copper. :erargyrite. horn silver. Isometric. In cubes, or massive. Color, iiay, green, or blue. Lustre, resinous. Streak, hining. Cuts like horn or wax, and on an 46 TREATMENT OF SILVER ORES. \ \ A , outcrop looks like dirty cement. Melts in cand'j flame. Contams 75.3 per cent, of silver; and 24.7 per cent, of chlorine. A valuable ore. B.BJ gives bead easily. BROMYRITE. or bromic SI lver.— Silver anc bromme. Bromine, 42.6 per cent. Silver S7 per cent. A common ore. There are many other ores of silver, but the above h3t comprises all the ores commonhj worked. Silver ores are treated by freemiliing, oJ direct amalgamation in pans, each charge beinj worked for several hours, through a series oil pans. This method is applicable to Native Silver; Horn Silver, and certain forms of sulphidesl The presence of such base metals as Iron, CopperJ Lead, Zinc, or Antimony, interferes with tliel process when concentration, and sometimes roasting-milling, or roasting the ore with salt, must be resorted to. Silver mining requires expensive plant, andl large capital, with expert management. ^ The simplest test for the presence of silver! is: to dissolve the ore in nitric acid, and pour m strong salt water. This throws down white flakes, and on exposing these to the sun, they will turn black if the ore contain silver. Have any ore suspected to contain silver! SILVER IN LEAD ORES. 47 issayed. On an average, at least Jfiio per ton as Lined, is necessary to constitute a paying ore. One cubic foot of silver is worth 1)13,008.67. JNATIVE.— Is a soft, bluish gray metal. Leaves la mark on paper. Malleable. B.B. fuses easily, land volatilizes, leaving a yellow ring on charcoal. jOf rare occurrence. G. = ii.85. IGALENA. liKAD SULPHIDE:. Isometric. In cubes, also granular, or rarely Ifibrous. Color and stre^.k, lead-gray. Shining. Easily broken. H.=2.5. G. ==7. 25— 7.7. Con- Itams 86.6 per cent, of lead (when pure); 13.4 per jcent. of sulphur; and from one or two to several thousand ounces of silver. B.B. covers charcoal with yellow deposit. If carefully treated, finally yields bead of lead. If bead be placed on a bone-ash cup, or a cavity in charcoal, filled with fine bone-ash, smoothly pressed in; and further treated, the lead will be absorbed, and the silver obtained nearly pure. 4.3 cubic feet weigh one I ton. Galena is the chief source of lead. MINIUM. liEAD OXIDE. Color, red to yellow. Pulverulent. G.=4.6. B.B. yields bead of lead. Manufactured for the arts. CERUSSITE. VVHITE LEAD ORE. Color, white to gray. H.=3.— 3.5. G.=6.48. 48 TREATMENT OF LEAD ORES. lit f!^ s"i i ;lli pi. Contains y^ per cent, lead, with oxygen, carbonic| acid and impurities. Artificially made. There are many other ores of lead, containing! various amounts of silver, almost all of which, | are found in a:isociation with galena, some abund- ant in certain localities, others of rare occurrence. All are distinguished at once, by specific gravity, and by yielding lead before the blowpipe. Lead ores are valuable, in the proportion of their silver contents, but when worked for lead alone, should average not less than 40 per cent, of metal. Lead ores carrying silver, are treated by I concentration and smelting, or smelting alone. Like nickel, and copper, the first product or| matte is frequently sold to refiners. The plant is necessarily costly, and all furnace operations! depend for success, on skilful management by experts. Also, it is almost an essential, that a mixture of ores from different mines be made, and these must be carefully selected, and taken in certain proportions, which continually vary, for different ores. Fragments of lead ore, or heavy spar in crumbling magnesian limestone, depressions in a straight line, or the red color of the soil on the surface indicate lead veins, which are found in rocks of all ages up to the carboniferous, the largest being usually found in Silurian limestones overlying slates. PLATINUM. — SPERRYLITE. 49 PI^ATINUM. Is a bright, white metal, heavier than gold. [t is used chiefly for chemical and electrical kipparatus. G.=2i.i5 when pure. NATIVE. — Color and streak, steel-gray. Lustre, Imetallic, bright. Isometric, but seldom in crystals. [Can be drawn out. Malleable. H,=4 — 4.5. |G.=i6 — 19. Not touched by simple acids. Dis- Isolves in Aqua Regia. Found in gravel, with Igold, usually alloyed with other rare metals, and Icopper or iron. Derived from crystalline rocks. B. B. Infusible, and wholly unaltered; these qualities identify it at once. 2 cubic feet weigh one ton. SPERRYLITE. — Colof, tin-whitc. Lustre, 'right. H.=about 7. G. = io.6. Contains 50.7 per cent, lof Platinum. Crystals very minute. Found only in the Sudbury section of Ontario; in detritus composed of gossan, and rork in a decomposed lujndition, apparently derived from seams of ferruginous mica schist, with some copper pyrites. The largest nugget of native platinum known was found in 1827, in the Ural mountains, and weighed 21 pounds. It measures 4x7 inches. MERCURY. Has a strong affinity for other metals, gold, silver, lead, etc., forming an amalgam. It is 50 QUICKSILVER ORE. 'ilii il Ij Used to extract gold and silver; for mirrors barometers, etc., and largely in medicine. Com monly called quicksilver. NATIVE.— Bright, white, and liquid, at norma] temperature, melting at 39°. G.=i3.6 at 32^ Occurs in globules scattered through the gangiie derived from the sulphide; CINNABAR.— In rhombohedral crystals, or massive! Color, bright red, blackish or brownish. LustreJ unmetallic. Streak, scarlet-red. Crystals are| nearly transparent, liver ore;— IsduU, of sanit color and streak. H.=2— 2.5. G.=8.5-9. Ii IS identical with the brilliant red pigment, vei million. B.B. vaporizes. 3.6 cubic feet weigll one ton. Can be cut with a knife. Contains 86. J per cent, of mercury; and 13.8 percent, of sulphur, Found in schists and slates, both the older rocks, and those of later age. Never found in| quantity, in the more crystallized rocks, siicl,, as Gneiss. The mercury of commerce is obtained by distillation, although, it is sometimes dipped| up in buckets, from fissures in the rocks con- taining the ores. COPPER. Is a very tough, ductile metal, of a fine red! color, taking a bright polish, but quickly tarnishing,, Used largely in the arts, both alone, and in brassj and other alloys, also in plating. Large quan- tities are now used in electric railway plant. NATIVE COPPER. 51 Inative. — Isometric, and tree-like forms. Color, Icopper-red. Malleable. Can be drawn out. H.=: 2.5 — 3. G.=8.84. Pure copper occurring in [veins; in grains, and masses: usually enriched where crossed by dykes. Sometimes accom- panied by native silver, and occasionally spread Gilt in floors. B.B. yields bead of copper, which shines brightly while hot, but becomes covered, on cooling, with black oxide. Dissolves easily in nitric acid. It is mined when yielding but one per cent, of copper. CHALCOCITE. COPPER GliANCE. Trimetric. In compound crystals, also mas- sive. Color and streak, blackish to lead-gray, often tarnished blue, and green. H.=:2.5 — 3. ^•=5'5 — 5-8. Contains 79.8 per cent, copper; and 20.2 per cent, of sulphur. B.B. gives bead of copper. 5.7 cubic feet weigh one ton. BORNITE. VARIEGATED PYRITES. Isometric. Generally massive. Color, copper- red to pinchbeck-brown. Tarnishes rapidly. Streak, grayish-black, shghtly shining. Brittle. H.=3. G.=5. Contains copper 55.58 per cent.; iron, 16.36 per cent.; with sulphur, 28.6 percent.; but varies greatly. B. B. fuses to magnetic globule. Also called erubiscite. CHALCOPVRITE, PYRITES. Dimetric. Generally in octohedral crystals, 52 COPPER ORES. I! II !i , I Ih :■ M or massive. Color, brass-yellow. Streak, greenish black, dull. H.=3.5_4. G.=4. 15-4.3. Containsl 34.6 per cent, of copper; 34.9 per cent, of sulphur;] and 30.5 per cent, of iron. Will not scratch glass, B.B. gives brittle bead. 7.6 cubic feet weigh onel ton. Should carry not less than six per cent. o{| metal, as mined, to make a profitable ore. TETRAHEDRITE. GRAY COPPER ORE. Isometric. In tetrahedral forms. Color, steel- gray, to iron-black, with streak inclined to red. ^•=3— 4-5- G.=4.5— 5.12. Contains 91.9 perl cent, of copper, but varies greatly, sometimes containing 10 per cent, to 30 per cent, of silver, with usually iron, zinc, and antimony. A valu- able ore, and easily worked. B.B. gives bead of | copper, or copper and silver. 6.6. cubic feet weigh one ton. Sometimes contains platinum. CUPRrTE. RED COPPER ORE. Isometric. In octahedrons, or massive, some- times earthy. Color, red, of various dark shades. Streak, brownish-red. Lustre, adamantine. Brittle. H.=3-5— 4- G. =5.85— 6.6. Contains 88.8 per cent, of copper, with 11.2 per cent, of oxygen. B.B. gives bead of copper. 5 cubic feet weigh one ton. CHRYSOCOLLA. THE SILICATE. Color, bright green. Lustre, shining or earthy. Contains 30 per cent, to 35 per G.=:2 — 2.4. TO RECOGNIZE COPPER ORES. 53 Icent. of copper, with silica. A secondary deposit, Ibut sometimes valuable. B.B. with soda, gives la bead of copper. I MALACHITE. GREEN CARBONATE. This ore is polished, and used for inlaid work, land even jewellery. Colors, blue or green, of jvarying shades (deep blue to light green). Streak, paler. Soft ore, dull in appearance. Contains 56 per cent, of copper; 14 per cent, of oxygen; 22 per cent, of carbonic acid ; and 8 per cent. of water. Not important a, a source of metal. B.B. colors the flame - n, and quickly yields [metallic copper. 8.2 cuoic feet weigh one ton. lAZURITE. BliUE CARBONATE. Color, deep blue. Sometimes transparent. [Streak, bluish. Brittle. H.=3.5 — 4.5. G.= [So — 3-85. Used only for ornamental purposes. Copper occurs, as arsenate, phosphate, vana- Idate, and in very many combinations, other than I those described, which are the important ores to the miner. - Native copper is recognized at once. The ores are distinguished mainly by lively colors, and nearly all turn bright green on exposure, and B.B. tinge the flame green. The value of a find of any ore of copper depends on the quantity. llie native metal veins are the paying mines, and always act on the compass. When the Siiiiiai, 'iMm 54 SUDBURY NICKEL RANGE. prospect of he deposit being large is sadsfactory,, get an assay. The ores of copper may some times be shipped to advantage, after simple concentration, and are readily purchased by refiners. There are several other ores, of little| interest commercially. Copper ores are reduced, by smeltmg, after! concentration by hand or machines, and in tiie case of sulphide ores, a preliminary process of| calcination, or roasting, is resorted to. NICK^Iy, AND COBAI^T. NICKEL.— Is a brilliant, white metal, which does not tarnish, and is very ductile. It is used I chiefly as an alloy, and in plating. COBALT.— Is a lustrous, reddish-gray metal, very brittle, and sometimes granular— sometimes fi- brous. Is not used as a metal, except in plating,, but mainly for the production of smalt, the bhie coloring matter. Neither are found native. NICKELIFEROUS PYRRHOTITE.— From this ore is| obtained much of the nickel of commerce. It is identical witli ordinary magnetic pyrites, save that it carries the nickel. The nickel at Sudbury, Ontario, is derived almost entirely, from thisj ore, which is intimately mixed with copper pyrites, and often contains besides the nickel; cobah; occasionally a little galena; silver, or gold; and in at least one case, tin. Although :.y. NICKEL AND COBALT ORES. 55 5 saiisfactory.l :r may some- after simplel urchased by )res, of little 7 metal, very! Dmetimes fi- )t in plating, lalt, the blue I native. n this ore isi mmerce. It pyrites, savej at Sudbury, , from thisj nth copper the nickel; ; silver, or . Although jthe average nickel contents of the ore, is less Ithan 2| per cent., it runs as high as 30 per Icent., and even 40 per cent., in certain samples. jAnything over two per cent, in nickel will pay Ito mine, if in large quantities. diorite — (a jtough, hard, greenish to black colored, eruptive Irock); appears to be the true nickel-bearing rock lat Sudbury, and the deposits of ore already dis- covered will supply all demands for the metal whicli are likely to be made -for many years, while but a comparatively small section of the nickel-bearing area has been properly prospected. Other ores of nickel, of which some are found jin the Canada range, are: — IlINNAEITE. SCJliPHIDE CF COBAIilT AND NICKF.L.. Isometric. Generally massive. Color, pale Isteel-gray, tarnishing copper-red. Streak, dark gray. H.=5.5. G.=4.8 — 5. Contains when pure, 58 per cent, of Cobalt, generally replaced in part by nickel, with 42 per cent, of sulphur. B.B. yields no metal, but colors borax bead deep blue. 6.5 cubic feet weigh one ton. MILLERITE. CAPIIiLARY PYRITES. Rhombohedral. Usually in needle-like crys- tals. Color, brass-yellow, to bronze-yellow, with gray tarnish. Streak, bright. H.==:3— 3.5. G.= 4.6 — 5.65. Contains when pure; 64.4 per cent. of nickel, and 35.6 per cent, of sulphur. E.B. yields no metal. 6.2 cubic feet weigh one ton. w 56 NICKEL AND ARSENIC. 1. COBALTITE. Isometric. Color, silver-white, with a reddish tinge. Streak, grayish-black. Brittle. H.=5.5, G.=6.63. Contains 45.2 per cent, of arbenic: 19.3 per cent, of sulphur; and 35.5 per cent, ofl cobalt; often with iron and copper. B.B. gives! sulpliur and arsenic fumes, with magnetic globule; with borax, a cobalt-blue bead. SMALflTE. COBAIiT aL.ATSCBi. Isometric. Occurs in many forms, oftenl massive. Color, tm-white. Streak, dark gray, ^•=5-5 — 6. G.=6.4 — 7.2. Contains from 22! per cent, each of nickel, and cobalt, to 44 per| cent, of nickel alone, with 50 per cent, of arsenic, and some iron. B.B. yields no metal. 4.7 cubicl feet weigh one ton. NICCOLITE. COPPER NICKBIi. Hexagonal. Generally massive. Color, cop- per-red. Streak, brownish -red. Lustre, metallic. ^•=5 — 5-5' G.=7.3 — 7.7. Contains 44 per cent. nickel, and 56 per cent, of arsenic. B.B. yields no metal. 4.2 cubic feet weigh one ton. GERSDORFFITE. Color, steel-gray. Streak, blackish-gray. Lus- tre, bright. H.=5.5. G. =5.6— 6.9. Contains! 35 per cent, of nickel, (sometimes more); 45 perl cent, of arsenic ; and 20 per cent, of sulphur, jj cubic feet weigh one ton. SOME NEW NICKEL ORES. 51 [QARNIERITE. nickel SIIilCATX:. Color, green. Streak, uncolored. Yields 6 to [8 per cent, of nickel. Chiefly mined in New Caledonia; also found in Oregon, U.S.A. The following new ores of nickel are reported I by Dr. Emmens, from Sudbury, Canada. FOLGERITE. Massive, with platy structure. Color, bronze- [yellow. Streak, greyish-black. Lustre, metallic. H.r=3.5. G.=(approximately) 4.73. Contains 32.87 per cent, of nickel. WHARTONITE. Color, pale bronze-yellow. Streak, black. Lustre, metallic. Tarnishes rapidly on exposure. H.=about 4. G.=about 3.73. Contains 6.10 per cent, of nickel. 8 cubic feet weigh one ton. BLUEITE. JACK'S TIN. Color, olive-gray to bronze. Lustre, metallic. Streak, black. H.=3— 3.5. G.=4.2. Non- magnetic. Contains 3.5 per cent, of nickel. Named after Mr. Archibald Blue, Director of Ontario Bureau of Mines. A S B O L I T E . EARTHY COBALT. Color, black or blue-black. Contains over 20 per cent, of cobalt oxide. Occurs as a bog ore with manganese, iron and copper, and nickel. There are many other ores of nickel and 58 SMELTING FURNACES. cobalt, occurring rarely, or as products of other and more abundant ores. All occur in the lower! formations, and cobalt ores, invariably, are found in connection with nickel. Compounds of nickel befcre the blowpi])e| yield no metal, but leave a bead of borax, gray with specks of reduced nickel. Cobalt and nickel ores are first smelted into! a rich concentrate or matte, and then refined by the use of acids ; in most cases. The ore as in copper, is when a sulphide, first roasted to expel the greater portion of the sulphur. Thej refining, when done with acids is a slow and costly process, but new methods are being suc- cessfully adopted, and it is probable that this will, in the near future, be done by electrolysis. The mining and treating of these ores, re- quires large capital, and great skill is necessary to obtain economical results. Smelting furnaces were formerly, built of common brick, and lined with fire-brick, whether blast furnaces, or reverberatory furnaces; but the American water jacket furnace, is to-day the ideal blast furnace, being built of cast iron, wrought iron, or mild steel, protected by an outer wall, or jacket, of the same material, through which a stream of water constantly circulates, thus protecting the furnace, so that, except for an accident, nothing compels a stop- TIN ORES. eg page, unless for a general overliauling of the plant, at long intervals. The molten metal, and slag, is allowed to run constantly, as fused, into a water protected well, (on wheels, easily re- moved without stopping the operation), and 'thence, the metal, sinking by its greater gravity, is tapped into moulds or pots, while the lighter slag flows steadily from a spout at the top, and is removed in iron pots on wheels, or sometimes granulated by allowing it to drop into water. By the introduction of a powerful blast, of hot or cold air, a great saving of fuel is effected, and a much greater capacity obtained. A fur- nace has lately been introduced which utilizes the sulphur contained in pyritic ores as fuel, thus making the ore smelt itself. TIN. Is a silvery white metal, of high lustre, and malleable, but not ductile, used in alloys, or as a coating for other metals. There are but two ores of tin, and these occur usually in small veins of quartz. Tin is also obtained from gravel, and is then called Stream Tin. The veins occur in granite, gneiss, and mica slate, and the associated minerals are copper and iron pyrites. They are considered worth working, when but a few inches wide. 6o BISMUTH. BKI^L. MKTAL. ORB. STANNITE. Massive, or in grains. Color, steel-gray to iron-black. Streak, blackish. Brittle. H.=4. G.=4.3 — 4.6. Contains 27 per cent, of tin ; 30 per cent, of sulphur; 30 per cent, of copper, and 13 per cent, of iron. Found sparingly, hardly to be called an ore of tin, and oftener worked for copper. 7.2 cubic feet make one ton of ore. CASSITERITE. TIN ORE. Dimetric. Crystals often compounded. Also massive, and in grains. Color, brown to black. Streak, gray to brownish. Lustre, shining. H. =6. — 7. G.=6.4 — 7.1. Its high specific gravity is characteristic. Contains 78.67 per cent, of tin, and 21.33 per cent, of oxygen. B.B. with soda gives bead of tin. Looks like blende, or a dark garnet. Very hard, will strike sparks with steel. 4.7 cubic feet weigh one ton. Mined chiefly in Cornwall. The Cornish mines were worked in Roman times, and are' now very deep. The tin veins in Da- kota, U.S., are gold-bearing, and the formation is quartzite, sandstone, and slate, overlying granite. Phosphate minerals also, occur abundantly. BISMUTH. NATIVE. — Rhombohedral. Generally massive. Color and streak, silver white, with slight red tinge. Tarnishes. May be hammered out a little CADMIUM. 6i when heated, but is brittle when cold. H. ::r2 2.5. G. =^9. 7— 9.8. B.B. fuses very easily, vapor- izes, and leaves a dark yellow coating on charcoal, which becomes paler on cooling. Pure Bismuth, 3.2 cubic feet weigh one ton. Found with ores of silver, cobalt, and gold. Used chiefly as an ingredient in fusible metal, also in medicine, and as a pigment. Bismuth occurs in several other ores. Found in same formations as copper. Oc- curring m gneiss and other crystalline rocks. CADMIUM. This metal is white like tin, but so soft it leaves a mark on paper. Used as a solder (with tin) for aluminum. There is but one ore: greenockite; the sulphide. — In hexagonal prisms. Color, light yellow. Lustre, brilliant; nearly transparent. H.=3— 3.5. G.=4.8— 5. B.B. fuses easily, and leaves, if fused on a piece of plaster of paris, a dark brown, or reddish brown deposit. 6.5 cubic feet weigh one ton. Cadmium is often associated with zinc ores. ^INC. A brittle, bluish-white metal, crystalline, and very lustrous on fresh broken surface. Used with copper, to make brass; as roofing sheets; and as paint; also to coat iron (galvanized.) B.B. covers charcoal with zinc, oxide, yellow while hot, white when cold. t i I .: « ill 62 ^INC ORES. SPHALrRITE. BLENDE. Isometric. Generally massive; rarely fibrous. Various colors. Streak, white to reddish brown. Cleavage perfect. Waxy. Brittle. H.r--3.5— 4. G.r ^3.9 — 4.2. Contains 67 per cent, of zinc; ^^ per cent, of sulphur. B.B. nearly infusible. Looks like pieces of resin. or dirty gum. 8 cubic feet weigh one ton. Known as black jack. ZINCITE. RED ZINC ORE. Hexagonal. Usually in separate grains. Color, bright red. Streak, orange. Lustre, brilliant; translucent. Foliated like Mica. H.=4— 4.5. G. =^5-4— 5-7- Contains 80.3 per cent, of zinc; and 19.7 per cent, of oxygen. B.B. gives no bead, but fuses with borax, and leaves a coating on coal. 5.8 cubic feet weigh one ton. A valuable zinc ore. SMITHSONITE. CARBONATE OF ZINC. Rhombohedral. Usually massive. Color, im- pure white, green or brown. Streak, uncolored. Lustre, stony. Translucent. Brittle. H.=5. G.=4.3 — 4.45. Contains about 52 per cent, of zinc, with often some Cadmium. B.B. infusible alone, but with soda leaves a deposit on charcoal, which moistened with nitrate of cobalt, turns green. CALAMINE. DRYBONE. Trimetric. Usually massive. Color, white, bluish, grayish, or brownish. Streak, uncolored. e, brilliant; IRON ORKS. 63 Lustre, vitreous. Nearly transparent. Brittle. II. -=^4. 5 — 5. G.=3.i6 — 3.9. Contains 67.5 per cent, of zinc oxide; 25 per cent, of silica; and 7.5 per cent, of water. J^).B. almost infusible. Yields no metal, but acts same as Sriithbonite. 10 cubic feet weigli one ton. Zinc ores occur in rocks of all ajcs, grne. rally associated with lead ores, and 0.1 li with copper, iron, tin and silver. There are various ores of zinc not of much value, as a source of the metal. It is often a detrimental substance in gold and silver mines, making the ore difficult to treat. The metal is obtained by distillation in retorts of various forms. The furnaces, and accessories, require considerable capital, and skilled management. IRON. NATIVE. — Found in the metallic state in meteor- ites, and occasionally, in grains in some rocks, but never in commercial quantity, un.ess we except, some masses of a ton weight found in Sweden. PYRITE. NON-MAGNETIC ORE. Isometric. Usually in cubes, or massive. Color, brass — yellow. Streak, brownish-black. Lustre, of crystals, brilliant. Brittle. H.=^6 — 6.5. G.=4.8 — 5.1. B.B. yields no metal, but a magnetic globule. Contains 46.7 per cent, of I w 64 SULPHIDE IRON ORES. i iron; and 53.3 per cent, of sulphur, which latter constitutes the valuable part of this ore, being used to obtain the sulphuric acid of commerce Will scratch glass. 6.5 cubic feet equal one ton. PYRRHOTITE. MAGNETIC PYRITES. Hexagonal. Generally massive. Color, be- tween bronze-yellow and copper-red. Streak grayish-black. Often with dark tarnish. H.=3.5 4-5. G.=4.4— 4.65. B.B. yields no metal, but changes to the red oxide. Contains 60.5 per cent, of iron; 39.5 per cent, of sulphur. Tarnish- es easily. Valuable as an ore of nickel. (See under head of Nickel.) Also used to make green vitrol. 7.1 cubic feet equal one ton. ARSENOPYRITE. MiSPICKEt. Trimetric. Also occurs massive. Color, silver- white. Streak, grayish-black. Lustre, shininc-. Brittle H.=5.5_6. G.=6.3. B.B. yields no metal but fumes of arsenic, which have the odor ot garhc, and may be perceived on striking the ore smartly with a hamme . 5 cubic feet equal one ton. Contains 46 per cent, of arsenic (which IS Its valuable constituent); 19.6 per cent, of sul- phur; and 34.4 per cent, of iron. Sometimes it is rich in gold, but until recently this could not be profitably extracted, owing to the difficulty of getting rid of the arsenic, which prevented its successful treatment. Now, however, with lately HEMATITE IRON ORES. 65 perfected processes, it is possible to treat the most arsenical ores economically, and prospectors should have mispickel ores examined for gold. None of the above ores are used for the making of iron and steel. HEMATITE. SPECULAR IRON ORE. Under this and following heads are included most of the ores from which pig iron and steel are made. Varieties are: micaceous, red hema- tite, red chalk, clay iron stone. Rhombohedral, massive, granular, sometimes micaceous, also earthy. Color, red, steel-gray or iron-black. Streak, cherry-red, or reddish brown. Hardness varies; from 6.5 down to earthy ores. Contains 70 per cent, of metalHc iron; (when pure); and 30 per cent, of oxygen. B.B. infusible. The streak will identify this ore under all its forms. The darker the ore the redder the streak. Not magnetic before heating unless it contains magnetite. 6.6 cubic feet equal one ton. A Bessemer ore, (by which is meant, an ore suitable for the manufacture of steel by the Bessemer process, now chiefly employed) should be practically free from sulphur, and phosphorus, and entirely free from titanic acid. The higher the percentage of metallic iron the more valuable the ore, anything over 60 per cent, being high grade. 66 MAGNETITE. Isometric. THE MAGNETIC NEEDLE. MAGNETIC IRON ORE. Massive; also granular. Color iron-black. Streak, black. H. = 5.5— 6.5. G.= 5—5.1. Contains (when pure) 72.4 per cent.' of metallic iron; and 27.6 per cent, of oxygen. B.B. infiisible. 6.4, cubic feet equal one ton Strongly magnetic, so much so that deposits are frequently discovered by the variation of the compass. If your compass wavers, and inclines to point very much east or west, look for iron along the nearest contact. By means of a dip- needle (a magnetic needle suspended to swin- freely up and down between two pivots, instead o^ round, on one, like the compass;) the ore deposit nia} be found when no exposure exists, but a very magnetic ore will cause the needle to turn completely over when in small quantities, and in some cases it is very misleading. An expert in the use of the needle can get surprisingly accurate knowledge of a deposit, even when covered by many feet of barren rock. An attrac tion confined to a few feet, is apt to be caused by a boulder. If u continues along the strike it indicates a lode. A continuous attraction is better evidence of value than a strong one. Some- times found, as a black sand. Often in quartz veins, distributed in small pieces through the vein but not m commercially valuable quantity, and such veins seldom contain any ore of value. I ir I NATURAL COMPASS. 67 LODESTONE. — Some specimens are natural mag- nets. Place a piece on a light chip of wood floating in a basin of water, and it will turn north and south, being a natural compass. FRANKLINITE. Isometric; also massive. Color, iron-black. Streak, reddish-brown. Brittle. H. =5. 5— 6.5. G-=4-5 — 5-I' Usually magnetic, but less so than magnetite. Formula, like magnetite, but with part of iron replaced by zinc and manganese. B.B. with soda on charcoal, gives zinc coating. Occurs in large deposits. LIMONITE. BROW^N HEMATITE. Massive; with smooth surface, or spongy. Color, dark brown to ochre-yellow. Streak, light brown to dull yellow. H.=5 — 5.5. G.=3.6 — 4. Various forms; from a hard clay ironstone, to yellow and brown ochre. Same as hematite, but contains 14 per cent, of water. 8.4 cubic feet equal one ton of ore. BOG ORE. This occurs in low ground, and is of con- siderable value; furnishing large quantities of iron, though chiefly used, by local furnaces, and for fluxing more difiicult ores. Contains, when pure, about two-thirds its weight of iron. Occurs in beds a few feet deep, spread over larger or smaller areas. .,,&■ ,.. f . 68 HOW IRON IS OBTAINED. \m SIDE RITE. SPATHIC IROIV. Rhombohedral. Usually massive, and foliated. Color, light grayish to brownish-red. Streak, uncolored. H.=3.— 4.5. G.-.3.7— 3.9. Contains 62.1 per cent, of iron protoxide. Often with manganese. B.B. infusible, but becomes mag- netic. 8.4 cubic feet equal one ton. Used largely for the manufacture of iron and stt :, und found :n many rocks, gneiss, mica schist, and clayslate. C H R O M I T E . CHROm IC IRON. Isometric. Usually massive, with rough sur- face. Color, iron-black to brownish-black. Streak, dark brown. Lustre, submetallic or dull. H.=^ 5.5. G. =4.3— 4.6. Slightly magnetic. B.B. fusible with borax. Nearly the same as mag- netite, but contains Chro»n im. 7 cubic feet equal one ton. Used largely as paint. Iron occurs in nature in endless combinations, bnt the above ores include all of interest (as iron) to commerce. B.B. all iron ores become magnetic, and some contain manganese and zinc, as mentioned above. The metal iron is obtained from its oxide ores, by smelting in blast furnaces, with Hme- stone as a flux, the plants being of large capacity, and requiring very large capital for their r -■ cessful operation. Steel, is made chiefly by • Bessemer process of forcing air upward throL^n the molten metal, in open crucibles, no further MANGANESE ORES. 69 fuel being required. Coke is the usual fuel used in smelting, but large quantities of iron are made with charcoal, and for some purposes, the iron so made, is superior to any other. In any case a mixture of ores is required. The value of a deposit depends, after quality is proved, on its being of great extent, and within easy reach of shipping facilities. An iron mine filling all the above conditions, is possibly, the best investment to be got. (See also, Iron Rocks page 19.) MANGANl^S]^. Is never used as a metal in the pure state, but is used chiefly as a source of oxygen. It is largely used in the arts for bleaching, clearing glass, and many other purposes. It is never found in the metallic state. B.B. the ores yield no metal, but color a borax bead violet. PYROLUSITE. Trimetric. Massive, sometimes fibrous. Col- or, iron-black. Streak, black. H.=2 — 2.5 G.= 4.8. Contains 63.2 per cent, of manganese; 36.8 per cent, of oxygen. 6.6 cubic feet equal one ton. This ore is now used as a source of oxygen, for illuminating purposes. PSILOMELANE. Occurs massive. Color, black or greenish- black. Streak, reddish-black and shining. H.=- 70 MOLYBDENITE. 5—6. G.:^4 — 4.4. Conta ins nearly same amoun of manganese as pyrolusite, but varies, and contains some baryta or potassa. 7.6 cubic feet equal one ton. WAD. BOG ORS. Massive, or earthy. Color, and streak, black orbrownish-biack. H.-^i— 6. G.=3— 4. Earthv, soils the finge-.. 9.1 cubic feet equal one ton.' Used as a paint, and sometimes consists of ir- regular globules n i)eds, a foot or more in depth, mixed with soil. RHODOCHROSITE. MANGANESE CARBONATB. Rhombohedrai. Color, rose-red. Cleaves like Calcite. H.--^3.5_4.5. G.-3.4-3.7. Contains 61.4 per cent, of mangane^- protoxide; and 38.6 per cent, of carbonic acid, with part of manganese often replaced by calcium, magnesium, or iron. The ores are found in same formations, and under same conditions as iron, and also contain- ing stiver, which makes a very valuable ore, and one easily worked. MOI^YBD]5NUM. MOLYiDENlTE; THE SULPH I DE.— Hexagonal, in plates, or masses foliated in thin plates lik' tinfoil. Color and streak, lead-gray, the strea with green tinge. Lui' re, bright on fresh ]e» age. H.=i— 1.5. G 1.5— 4.8. B.B. infi, .dJl, GRAPHITE. 71 but gives fumes of sulphur. 6.9 cubic feet of pure molybdenite equal one ton. This ore is used but little, chiefly in the preparation of a blue color, and is sometimes 1 mistaken for graphite (blacklead), which it re- stupbles, but from which it is easily distinguished, as graphite leaves a black mark on paper, while molybdenite has a greenish-black streak, which is best seen by drawing a piece across a china or other plate. Occurs in crystalline rocks, but sparingly; also with lead and copper ores. Con- tains 59 per cent, of molybdenum; and 41 per cent, of sulphur. GRAPHITU. PLUMBAGO. BLiACKIiEAD. Hexagonal. Usually foliated, also massive. Color, black to steel-gray. Streak, as a common lead pencil. Lustre, metallic. H.=i— 2. G.= 2.25—2.27. Soils the fingers, and feels greasy. Contains 95 to 99 per cent, of carbon. B.B. infusible. Not touched by acids. 13.9 cubic feet of pure graphite equal one ton. Largely used in the manufacture of pencils, crucibles, stove polish, and lubricants for heavy machinery. Also in electric lighting, plating, etc. Commonly called blacklead. Found chiefly in crystalline limestone, also in gneiss, and mica schist, and generally forms only a small percent- age of the ore, distributed evenly throughout the 72 TELLURIUM. gangue in specks; or in masses of all sizes. A valuable mineral when pure. Such impurities as lime, and iron, destroy its value. Test for lime with hydrochloric acid. T:ei/I/URIUM. NATIVE. — Hexagonal. Commonly massive. Color, and streak, tin-white. Brittle. H.=2 — 2.5. G. =6.1 — 6.3. B.B. fuses, tinges the flame green, and volatilizes. 5.4 cubic feet equal one ton. Also obtained in combination with silver, and lead ores, which is the chief source of supply. RAR]$ Mi^TAIyS. Certain rare metals mentioned below, are quoted at high prices in price lists of chemicals, and people are led to believe that they exist as mines. Some are found native, but the cause of their being seldom used, and high-priced is in most cases the great expense attending their extraction, and reduction, to the metallic state, or their scarcity. Those usually mentioned are not of much interest, except to chemists. There is but a very limited market for any metal so priced, even if a quantity should be found. BARIUM exists in nature as baryta (or heavy spar) a sulphate, (described in part V.) magnesium is a very light, tough, white metal, never found native, palladium is a malleable, steel-gray metal, incHning to white, found native, with some RARE METALS. 73 platinum, and iridium, generally in small grains, in gold diggings, and occasionally native gold is alloyed with palladium, rhodium is found as an alloy with gold, iridosmine is a compound of IRIDIUM and OSMIUM, occurring usually in small flat grains. H.=6.7. G.— 19.5 — 21. Slightly malleable, and used for points to gold pens. SODIUM is the metallic base of common salt, (Chloride of Sodium), uranium is the metallic base of pitchblende; never found native. (See under Pitchblende.) There, are many other metals known only to chemists, or rarely used, whether native or arti- ficially extracted. None are of interest to com- mercial mining. PART V. OTHER MINERALS OF COMMERCIAL VALUE. We have now, briefly described, the chief ores from which metals of commerce are extract- ed, and as such, of greatest interest to the general public. AlyUMINIUM. Is a metal of great promise, being only one- third as heavy as iron, of great tensile strengtli (26,000 pounds against 16,500 pounds for cast iron, per inch) and hardness, a beaiuiful white color, with no taste or odor, not liable to tarnish or corrode, and taking a polish which is not ex- celled by any other metal, yet it is not of special interest to prospectors, being the base of clays, and therefore, the nn t abiradant of all metals. Its price depends purely on the discovery of cheaper methods of extraction. A cubic fool weighs but 163 pounds, while iron weighs 487, and gold 1206 pounds per cubic foot. The most valuable source 0*" aluminium, at present (and likely to remain . n' >st valuable until new processes of extracti ai. developed) is an ore called: bauxite; This mineral is a soft granular, com- pact, iron-stained clay, and the color is white to CORUNDUM. 75 brown or reddish, or sometimes bluish. G.= 2.55. It is a hydrated sesqui-oxide of ahiminium and iron, soluble in sulphuric acid. A find of value. CORUNDUM. EMERY. Occurs of many colors, blue, red, etc. H.= 9, or next the diamond. G.— 3.9 — 4.1. n oxide of aluminium. When in clear blue crystals forms the gem called Sapphire. When crystals are red they are called Rubies. (See under Precious Stones.) Found chi;fly in mica schist, and granular limestone. The variety having bluish-gray and blackish colors, is called '-.ierv. Used very extensively, as a polishing material in the shape of powder. Distinguished at once its hardness. ALUM SHALE. — The alum of commerce is obtain- ed from shale, or some rock containing alunogen or other alum bearing mineral, by heating the rock in lumps to produce aluminium sulphate. 1 his is then lixiviated in stone cisterns, the lye concentrated by evaporation, and potassium added 10 the last solution. On cooling the alum crys- tallizes out. COMMON FELDSPAR. ORTHOCL.ASE:. Monoclinic. T'sually in thick prisms, and massive, gran ilar, or fine grained. Not striated. 76 CHINA CLAY. Color, white or flesli-red, sometimes pjreenish- wliite. Translucent lo opaque. B.B. fuses with difficulty. Not touched by acids. Moonstone and Sunstone are varieties. Contains 64.7 per cent, of silica; 18.4 per cent, of aluminium; and 16.9 per cent, of potash. Largely used in the manufacture of chinaware. CRYOLITE. — This is a peculiar, translucent, snow- white compound. H.=2.5. G. =2.95— 3. Con- tains 12.8 per cent, of aluminium; 32.8 per cent, of sodium; and 54.4 per cent, of fluorine. Used as a source of aluminium, and its salts; soda; and an opaque white glass. Melts easily in the flame of a candle. KAOLIN. CHINA CliAY. This is a clay derived from the decomposition of feldspar, and used in the manufacture of fine chinaware. A good deposit of this clay, easily accessible, and free of grit or iron, is a find of value. Soapy to the touch. Insoluble in acids. It is one of the essentials in a good clay for any purpose, but is rarely met with in a pure condition fit for the above use. To try the quality of the clay, wet a Httle in a white dish and observe that in a good article, it does not turn darker. Also observe that it is not ''gritty," but an analvsis is needed to test it, and even that will not fully prove its MEERSCHAUM. 77 inium; and value. B.B. will turn from white to brown if it contains iron. FIRE-CLAY -Pure, unctuous clay, with about 4c to 60 per cent, of silica, and free, or almost free from soda, potash, or alkaline earth. Found generally, underlying coal seams. POTTERS CLAY.-Must be plastic, and free from iron, and usually contains some free silica. MARL.-Clay containing much carbonate of lime- from 40 to 50 per cent. Sometimes contains many shells, or fragments of shells. Used as a fertilizer. SHALE.-Is an indurated compressed clay, and IS often ground and extensively used for bricks fie, etc. For vitrified bricks, a clay, or shale' IS required with a high fusion point, but capable of incipient fusion, to an extent which will close up the pores so as to completely prevent the absorption of water, before the material abso- lately melts. MEERSCHAUM. SEPIOWTE. Color white or creamy, sometimes bluish- green. Compact, of a fine earthy texture, with a smooth feel. H ^2—2 c mL^ P • ^ o — 2—2.5. -Moats on water. Contains 60.8 per cent, of silica; 27.1 per cent, ol magnesia; and 12.1 per cent, of water. BB infusible, gives much water, and a pink color, with 78 DERBYSHIRE SPAR. cobalt solution. Occurs in masses in stratified earth deposits. Used for pipe-bowls. MANGANESE SPAR. FOWI.ERITE. Color, reddish (usually deep flesh-red), also brown, greenish, or yellowish, sometimes black on surface. Streak, uncolored. Lustre, stony; transparent to opaque. H.=:5.5 — 6.5. G.=3.4 — 3.7. Contains 45.9 per cent, of silica; and 54.1 per cent, of manganese protoxide. B.B. becomes dark brown, and with borax, bead is deep violet when hot, and reddish brown when cold. Looks like feldspar, but is heavier. Used in making a violet colored glass, and a colored glaze on stoneware. Takes a high polish, and makes a handsome ornamental stone. FLUORSPAR. FI.UORITE. Occurs commonly in crystals, or compact. In bright colors, resembles some gems, but is distinguished by its easy cleavage and softness. Colors are white, or light green, purple or clear yellow, also rarely rose-red or sky-blue. Trans- parent or translucent. H.=4. G.=3 — 3.25, Brittle. Consists of 48.7 per cent, of Fluorine; and 51.3 per cent, of calcium. B.B. decrepitates and fuses to an enamel. When massive receives a high polish, and is made into vases, candlesticks, etc., and sold under the name of Derbyshire Spar. Hydro- if \ n stratified GYPSUM. yo fluoric acid, witli which glass is etched, is ob- tained from fluorspar; also used as a flux for copper and other ores, hence the name fluor. CAIVCIUM. APATITE. PHOSPHATE OF LIME. Hexagonal. Commonly in six-sided prisms. Color, green of various shades, sometimes yellow, blue, and reddish or brownish. Streak, always white. Generally occurs in crystals, but some- times massive. H.=5. G. =3— 3.25. Brittle. Lustre, stony. 10 cubic feet weigh one ton. B.B. moistened with sulphuric acid tinges the flame bluish-green, without the acid, reddish- yellow. Occurs in pyroxene; crystalline lime- stone; hornblende gneiss; and mica schist. Used extensively as a fertilizer. Distinguish- ed from feldspar by tri'al of hardness. GYPSUM. liAND PLASTER. This is a hydrous sulphate of Lime. It is used on land, for agri-ultural purposes, and as a i)laster for walls. H.-r:,:,5_2. G.=2.33. B.B. becomes white at once and exfohates, then fuses. When piue white it is called— alabaster; when trans- parent — selenite; when fibrous— satin spar; when hurned and ground it is plaster of pakis. Found 111 thick seams in limestone and clay beds. MARBLE. Crystalline limestone, or dolomite, susceptible of a fine polish, is marble. Colors are: white. 8o CELESTITE. II I pink, red, mottled, yellow, bronze, and black. Massive. Serpentine is sometimes called marble. LITHOGRAPHIC LIMESTONE. Is a compact, fine grained limestone. If free from grit, and other impurities, makes a valuable quarry, HYDRAULIC LIMESTONE. An impure limestone, containing silica and alumina, which on being burned affords a cement which will set under water. Contains 15 to 25 per cent, of clay. BARIUM. BAR IT E. HEAVY SPAR. Color, white, and yellowish, or reddish. Trans- parent or translucent. Lustre, vitreous or pearly. H,=2.5 — 3.5. G.=4.3 — 4.7. B.B. fuses, and im- parts a green tinge to flame. After fusion with soda, stains silver coin black. When ground, is used to adulterate white lead. Found in veins, generally with lead, as part of the gangue. 7.1 cubic feet weigh one ton. CELESTITE. STRONTIUM SULPHATE. Trimetric. In rhombic crystals, with distinct cleavage. Color, clear white, tinged v, 1th blue, or reddish. Lustre, vitreous. Brittle. Nearly transparent. H. =3—3.5. G.=3.9— 4. B. V>. decrepitates, tinging flame bright red, and fuses. ROCK SALT. 8i With soda blackens silver coin. Contains 56.4 per cent, of sf^Dntia which is used to obtain the red color in fireworks. Found in sandstone and limestone rocks. Is sometimes fibrous. SODIUM, ROCK SALT. CHLORIDE OF SODIUM. Colorless, or colored (by accidental impurities, such as iron,) red, brown, pale blue, yellow, or green. Streak, white. H.=2— 2.5. G. =2— 2.25. Tastes strongly saline. Contains 39.30 per cent, of sodium; and 60.66 per cent, of chlorine, but most samples contain clay, and a little lime and magnesia. B.B. flies to pieces, and melts into a bead which colors the flame yellow. It is obtained by sinking wells, from which the brine is pumped and evaporated in large pans, or by mming, the same as for any other ore. THORIUM. MONAZITE. This mineral is a phosphate containing cerium, lanthanum, yttrium, didymium and thorium, which latter is now used in making an improved gaslight. Color, brown to brownish-red. Sub- transparent to nearly opaque. Lustre, vitreous toresinous. Brittle. H. =5. G.=4.8— 5.1. Occurs in crystals. It is mined, the same as placer gold, from sand or gravel beds. B.B. colors the flame green when moistened with sulphuric acid. 82 ASBESTOS. TAI^C. STEATITE. SOAPSTONE. Trimetric. Foliated or massive. Color, light green or shining white. Sometimes dark green. H.=i.i5. G.=2.5 — 2.8. A silicate of magnesia. It is easily cut. The greenish colored massive variety of talc. potstone: is impure soapstone of dark color and slaty structure. French chalk is a milk- virhite kind. Soft and greasy to the touch. B.B. infusible. FOLIATED TALC. — Pure foliated talc of white, or greenish-white color. Soapstone is cut with a saw, and turned in a lathe, without difficulty. Used for gas-jets, and for various purposes. Takes a fine polish after being heated. Also used to adulterate soap; as a face powder; and as a filling for paper. AMPHIBOi;:^. HORNBLENDE. Occurs generally as a massive rock, but occa- sionally in fibrous form, as : ASBESTOS. — Color, green or white. Fibrous. A hydrous silicate of magnesia. May be spun into fine threads, by separating the fibres into a silky mass, and then twisting it, with the fingers. Used to cover steam-pipes, etc., in the form of rough cloth, and for many purposes requirini^ COMMON MICA. go an incombustible material. Occurs in seams from half an inch to several inches in width, running parallel, or crossing one another, the width of each seam making the length of the fibre. ACTINOLITE.— The long-bladed greenish variety. Used for fireproof material, chiefly roofing, with tar, or asphalt. MICA. MUSCOVITE. COMMON MICA. Monoclinic. In crystals, splitting easily into sheets, or in scales. Color, white, green, brown to black. Transparent, tough and elastic. H.= 2—2.5. G.=2.7. — 3. This mineral is extensively used in sheets, and ground. In sheets it is used for stoves, standing a great heat ; and for insu- lating purposes in electrical plants. Ground ; it IS used as a lubricant, and in making ornament- al and fire-proof paint. The pure white in large sheets (3x3 and upward) is most valuable, but the amber is as good value for electrical pur- poses. When spotted it is of little or no value. B.B, whitens, but does not fuse except on *^-in edges. Light colored micas are mostly Musco- vite ; black, Biotite. LITHIA MICA. liEPIDOIilTE. Color, rose-red, and lilac to white. In small plates, and aggregations of scales. Contains 2 to 5 per cent, of the metal Lithium. 84 VITRIOL. LITHIUM. — Is a soft, whitish, metal, of very Hght specific gravity, and considerable tenacity. It is very fusible. Used in an alloy with tin, and kad, as a solder. Lithia is also found as a phosphate, in : TRIPHY'JTE.— A mineral having H.=5. G.= 3.50. Streak, grayish-white, and lustre, sub- resinous. B.B. any mineral containing lithia colors the flame a beautiful deep crimson. SUI/PHUR. This acid is found as the mineralizing agent of many metallic ores, and is chiefly obtained for commercial purposes from : NATIVE SULPHUR, — Color and streak, sulphur- yellow, or sometimes orange-yellow. Lustre, res- inous. Transparent to translucent. Brittle. H.= 1.5 to 2.5. G.=2.o7. Burns with a blue flame and sulphurous odor. Pure sulphur, or contami- nated with clay, or pitch. Found in beds of gypsum, or the vicinity of volcanoes, active or extinci. Purified, it is the sulphur of commerce, which is also obtained largely from copper and iron pyrites, from which ores SULPHURIC ACID. — is also manufactured (the non- magnetic ore^ being preferred for this purpose), making vems of these ores valuable. It is known as Oil of Vitriol. The uses of sulphur for gun- powder, blacking, and medicine are well known, ARSENIC. gr PHOSPHOROUS. This is also an acid, frequently found com- bined with lime, forming the valual)le mineral apatite; also with copper, lead, etc., and is very injurious in iron ores. B.B. may be detected by moistening the assay with sulphuric acid, when the flame is tinged green. It is a white, waxy substance, when refined, and very poisonous. Used in the arts; for making matches, and various other purposes. ARSENIC. This is a common acid in connection with, ores of economic value, and occurs: NATIVE.— with silver, and lead ores. Color, and streak, tin-white, usually tarnished gray. Brittle- H. = 3.5. G. =5.65—5.95. B.B. volatilizes be- fore fusing, with the odor of garlic, and burns with pale blue flame. Also occurs combined with sul- phur, as: REALGAR. — of red color. H. = i.5 — 2. G.^-3.4 3.6 containing 29.9% of sulphur. OR PI me: NT.— Bright golden-yellow. H. = 1.5—2. G.=3.4--3.5. Having 39% of sulphur. Obtained chiefly from mispickel, (Arsenopy- rite) for commercial purposes.— Very poisonous. It IS an unwelcome ingredient in many "old, silver, and other ores, making their treatment very difficult, and often unprofitable. . I 86 JET. coAi;. ANTHRACITE. STONE COAIi. Color, black with high lustre. Opaque. Brittle and sectile. H.=-o.5 — 2.5. G.= i.2 — 1.80. Car- bon, with some oxygen, and hydrogen, and often more or less clay or slate. The seams run from an inch to forty feet in thickness. Believed to be of vegetable origin. Never found commercially in crystalline rocks, but is mostly confined to the upper rocks, known as Carboniferous. BITUMINOUS. SOFT COAIi. Color, black. G.=not more than 1.5. Softer than anthracite. Used to make coke and gas, and varies much in the amount of tar, gas, or oil it yields. BROWN COAL. I4IGNITB. Color, brownish-black. Like bituminous coal in appearance but, contains 15 to 20 per cent, of oxj^gen. Sometimes shows the structure of the wood from which it was formed. It will not make coke. J ET. — is a variety of coal, but is hard, of a dead black color, taking a fine polish, and much used in jewelry. Large quantities of different colored dyes are obtained from coal. It is said, that dye from one pound of coal will color 5,000 yards of cotton cloth. PETROLEUM. ASPHALT. §7 NATURAI, GAS. Gas can be found only in stratified rocks, generally in what is called Trenton Limestone, and the gas rock must be covered by considerable thickness of a close impermeable capping, of some other rock, or clay, or no body of gas of any extent will be met with, while however abund- ant, the supply is but temporary and will event- ually be exhausted in each locality. No surface indications are found, except small gasflows which indicate that the gas, escaping as formed, does not exist in the locality in commercial quantity. P^TROIylSUM. MINERAL OIL. The crude oil is found like natural gas; only in the higher rocks. It cannot be found in meta- morphic rocks or any crystalline formation. The common coal oil of commerce, is the volatile pro- duct of the distillation of Petroleum, the lubricat- ing oils, are the heavy oils left behind, and after- wards more or less purified, and perhaps io% (or I lb. to the gallon) of Paraffin wax,— is the residue of value. This wax" is the OZOKERITE— of Commerce; originally found in a natural state. ASPHALT.— is mineral Pitch, used for roofing and street paving. Color, black to blackish-brown. H.=(when solid) I — 2. G.=:i — 2. and is very inflammable. melts at 90" F. 88 MINERAL WOOL. 11 ^mp 'i PISAT. Tliis substance is not a mineral, but simply vegetable matter in a state of decomposition. Color brown to black. Spongy. G.=o.5 — i. When dried contains 15% to 25% of water. It is found in beds, or in bogs. It forms a valuable fuel when dried and strongl^■ compressed, fit for locomotives, or to smelt iron ores. SIWCATE COTTON. MINERAL WOOL — SO Called is not a natural, but an artificial product. It is made by converting scoria and certain slags, while in a melted condition into' a fibrous state, and is really glass in its nature, but fibrous, .D ^nd inelastic. Used as a preventive of fire ju trost, and to deaden sound; in buildings. URANIUM. The oxides are used in painting porcelain, giving a fine orange color in the enameling fire, and a black color when baked. The chief ore is: U RAN IN IT E. PITCHBIiENDE. Color, grayish to brownish or velvet-black. Lustre, submetallic or dull. Streak, black. Opa- que. H.=-5.5. G.--6.47. Contains 75 to 87 per cent, of uranium oxides, with silica, lead, iron, and other impurities, B.B. infusible alone. Dis- solves slowly in nitric acid when powdered. NATURAL FAINTS. NATURAI, PAINTS. 89 Natural paints, are th ose minerals which when nng 11 adhere to a HI an imper/ne- powdered smooth surface, and in able skin, or covering. Red iRon paint; is powdered hematite iron ore mixed with oil. Yellow Iron paint; is made from the brown iron ore. Black Iron paint; is made from magnetite. Umbek; by mixing the iron paints, with powder- ed oxide of manganese. Red Coffer paint; is powdered red oxide of copper. Green Copper paint; is powdered silicate of copper. Zinc White; is oxide of zinc, artificially made, by large costly plants. White Lead; is carbonate of lead, also artificial-" ly prepared, the natural ores not being pure enough. This al^o is a costly process. Red Lead; is oxide of lead, and has to be care- fully made by experts. Vermillion ; is the natural ore of mercury. Slate colored paints, are made from powdered, fine-grained slates, ground in oil. Graphite makes a fine shiny, fireproof paint. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I 11.25 '■^llllll .0 Ui ..„ Illllo IM u ^1^ Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 673-4503 A \ ^'O'^ HSIJ*' 4.V 90 AMBER. The Ochres ; are fine clays, with brown or red iron in them, which have been naturally washed, and ground, and sifted, to an extent that cannot be profitably imitated by art. TRIPOI/IT^. INFUSORIAL EARTH.— This polishing earth is formed from very minute siliceous shells, and besides its use for polishing metals, is mixed with nitro-glycerine to make Dynamite, the pow- erful explosive used extensively in all heavy rock cutting. AMB^R. MINERAL RESIN. — Is yellow in color to whitish. Lustre, resinous. Transparent to trans- lucent. H.=2— 2.5. G.=i.i8. Be- comes electric when rubbed. Is a resin, but mainly one that resists all solvents called Succinite. It is supposed to be a vegetable resin, which has been altered by sulphur while imbedded. Generally found along sea-coasts, in masses from pea size to as large as a man's head. It is used to make ornamental necklaces of beads, i^=^-^-^rz,-=.- mouthpieces for \ i^^^C^-VO^^^^ PiP^s, cigar hol- -^ »' "> •Ns=^-^l=^ ders, etc. PRECIOUS STONISS. Stones of the most valuable kinds-EMERALDs, Sapphires, Rubies, Garnets, Opals, and per- haps Diamonds, will yet be found in many sec- tions m America, where they have not hitherto been discovered, or their existence even suspected. The fact IS, that very few prospectors know any- thing at all about precious stones or crystals, and in most cases are not aware that Crystals or handsome specimens of minerals, have a value entirely apart from that due them as the source or the metals. Very few people have any idea of the beautv brought out, by polishing even very common stones or pebbles. 4 In an idle hour on the bank of stream or like amuse yourself by trying the hardness, of any c ear pebbles, or crystals you may find there. When you come across one that is not scratched by the corundum in your case, which represents number nine in the scale of hardness, or one which l>emg scratched by number nine, will also scratch ^t in turn, put it in your pocket, and send it by mail to a Lapidary or dealer in mineral specimens. This costs almost nothing and you may one day, be surprised by the result, and find your- self well paid for your trouble. Again, when you 92 SIZE OF GEMS. run across a handsome cluster of Quartz, or otlier Crystals, do likewise. Gems are discovered by carefully examining the various stones found in panning, or washing gold gravel. Sometimes the expenses of a long trip, may be recovered by the collecting of a few good crystals or unusual specimens of minerals, not of commer- cial value other than as Cabinet Specimens. Precious stones are sold at so much a carat, which is a conventional weight, divided into four grains, which are a little lighter than Troy grains. The term is derived from a dried bean used as a weight in Africa, for weighing gold. An approximate idea of the size of the various gems, may be had by reference to their varying specific gravity in comparison with this table of the approxmiate size of Diamonds, which is as follows, a stone weighing 7)V of a carat is about ^^r inch in diameter I i i I 2 t( (( (( (( 3 1 8 5 3 Tff 1 (( <( (( (( Diamonds are worth from $30 to $150 per carat. Emeralds " " '« $10 " $75 " Rubies '* " '' |8 '« $90 •• DIAMONDS. 93 Precious stones when polished are worth from IOC. to $10.00. They occur in the drift where the country rocks are eruptive. Transparency and hardness tell their value. DIAMONDS. Isometric. Faces of crystals often curved. Color, pure, colorless, or white (the most valu- able also yellow, orange, green, blue, brown and black. Lustre, adamantine. Transparent, unless dark colored. H.=io. G.=3.5 Pure Carbon, ihe hardest substance known. The Diamond does not sparkle in the rough, as found, or until polished. The best test is the hardness, and its becoming electric, when rubbed before polishing, this stone always showing posi- tive electricity. Other gems are negative unless polished. B.B. burns. Look for dull grayish white pebbles, having a worn octohedral form pointed at opposite ends Generally found in gravel diggings, but the Diamond bearing rock, in Brazil. appears to be a species of mica schist filled with quartz in grains, called Itacolumyte, while at the Kim- berly mines, in South Africa, it is a magnesian conglomerate with silica as a base. The matrix- known to the miners as the -blue," consists for the first 100 feet of soft friable yellow shal e, al- 94 SAPPHIRES. tered from a slate- blue colored crystalline rock which pulverizes on exposure to the air. The encasing rocks of the -chimney" are first a red- dish sand from 2 inches to 2 feet, then a few feet of calcareous Tufa, of recent date and still torming. Then a yellow to pinkish shale for 35 to 50 feet, succeeded by a black carbonaceous shale which extends to 260-285 feet from the surface when It gives way, to an unstratified basalt trap- depth unknown-which encircles the whole mine or mines. It is an amygdaloidal Dolerite with much agate. The ''blue" contains many thin veins of calcspar, and mica, pyrite, and hornblende occur throughout, The total area is eleven acres. The -blue" is allowed to lie in the open air until pulverulent, when it is carefully washed and the stones picked out. The less valuable are used as drms, and in powder as polishing material. The Diamond is cut by abrasion with its own powder. A cutter has succeeded lately in cut- ing a finger ring out of one perfect stone, 4 of an mch in diameter. SAPPHIR:eS. Rhombohedral. Usually in six-sided prisms but very irregular. Blue is the true color, but the stone occurs; red; yellow; green violet and hairbrown. Transparent or translucent. H.=9ornext the Diamond. G.=4-4.i6 BB remains unaltered. Pure Alumina. Dark colors TURQUOISE.— EMERALD. are called emery, (which occurs, granular in easil Co ,"'f ■ " '"^"'^^' <1"*^'- very easUy. Commonly found in gravel washings, and Ine a/fhf ' '"1 ""^'"' "'* "^='^'"- '"- i>cone, as the usual matrix. mo.t rZ "^'""'''^ «*■"' "^^ f^d 'colored being most highly pnzed. One specimen weighs sf pounds Troy, and is transparent, without I flaw TURQUOISE. In opaque masses, without cleavage. Color blmsh^green Lustre, waxy. H.=6. 'cJa 6- green but r""' '"°7"' ""'' ""^"^ "'^ «'""« green, but does not fuse. Soluble in hydro- chloric acid, and moistened with the acid tinges the flame green for a moment, owing to The .mitated by art, though the artificial gems are much softer. Occurs in veins. EMERALD. BBRYli. Color, green, sometimes bluish or yellowish Streak, uncolored. Transparent, or translucent: Br tie H.=7.5_8. G.=a.7. The rich green s the true emerald. The bluish-green are called AQUAMARmE. Colored by chromium when pure green Not touched by acids. B.B. infiisLe, but becomes clouded. One specimen weighs 96 TOPAZ. — OPAL. nearly seventeen pounds. Occurs in granite, and gneiss, but the finest crystals are found in dolo- mite. TOPA^. Trimetric. In rhombic prisms, with perfect cleavage. Color, pale yellow, white, reddish or greenish blue. Transparent to translucent. H.=8. G.=3.5. Consists of alumina and silica. B.B. infusible. Not affected by acids. Found both in loose crystals or pebbles, and in veins in metamorphic rocks. When used in jewelry the color is often altered by heat. Becomes electric on heating. The quartz crystals are known as False Topaz. (See also under Quartz.) OPAi;. Precious Opal.— Compact or earthy. Opaque white or bluish-white, with beautiful play of colors. H.=about 6. G=about 2—. Firk Opal; has yellow, and bright fire-red reflections. Easily scratched by quartz. B.B. infusible. Composition like quartz, but usually contains two to ten per cent, of water. Some stones are good natural barometers, becoming clouded on the approach of stormy weather, and clearing, and showing brighter reflections, as the weather be- comes settled. GARNET. ZIRCON. 97 GARNET. Isometric. Also occurs massive, or granular. Color, deep red to cinnamon, also brown, black, green, and white. Transparent to opaque. Lustre, vitreous. H.=6.5-7.5. G.=3.i— 4.3. B. B. fuses easily. When transparent, precious; if opaque, common. Of frequent occurence in mica schist and gneiss, but fine clear crystals are not common, and are highly valued. There are many varieties. Its crystalline form and fusibility dis- tinguish it. ZIRCON. Dimetric. Usually in crystals, but also granu- lar. Color, red to brown or gray, yellow, and white. Streak, uncolored. Lustre, adamantine. H.=7.5. 0.-4—4.8. Transparent red speci- mens are called hyacinth. Sometimes heated in a crucible, with lime, when it loses its color, and is then sold as diamond. Occurs in granite, gneiss, and some other igneous rocks. Dis- tinguished by its square prismatic form, and great specific gravity. QUARTS 6:^MS. Quartz is rhombohedral in crystallization, occurring usually in six-sided prisms more or less modified, also compact or granular. Crystals are colorless or yellow, amethystine, rose, smoky, and other tints. Transparent to 98 QUARTZ GEMS. opaque, and sometimes the colors are banded red^ green, blue, and brown to black. H.^.; G.— 2.5 to 2.8. Contains nominally; 50 00 oer cent of oxygen; and 46.67 per cent, of silicon, but often contains iron, clay, and other minerals. BB. mfusible alone, but fusible with soda. The followmg are all varieties of quartz. Rock CRVSTAL—Pure pellucid quartz. The ''whitestone" of jewellers, often used for spectacles and optical instruments. AMETHvsT.-Purple, or bluish violet ; of great beauty. , ° Rose QuARTZ.-Pink or rose-colored. Seldom m crystals. False ToPAz.-Light yellow, clear crystals. Often cut and sold for Topaz. Cairngorm SroNE.-Simply smoky Quartz. t-RASE.— Leek green, massive quartz. AvENTURiNE.-Common quartz, spangled with yellow mica. CHALCEDONY.-Translucent, massive, with waxy lustre. -^ CHRYsoPRASE—Apple-green chalcedony. CARNELiAN.-Bright red chalcedony, of rich tint Much used for seals. SARD.-Deep brownish-red chalcedony, blood-red by transmitted light. Agate— Variegated chalcedony. Beautiful when polished. A DISPLACED VKIN. 99 are banded 2k. H.=7. 53-33 per . of silicon, -r minerals, soda. The rtz. The n used for its. ; of great Seldom als. Often uartz. ?led with /ith waxy rich tint, blood-red iful when Moss Agate.— Contains moss-like delineations, caused by iron oxide. Onvx.— Agate having the colors in flat horizon- tal layers. Usually light brown and opaque vvhite. It is the material used for Cameos. Cat's Eye.— Greenish-gray, translucent chalce- dony, with a peculiar opalescence when polished with spheroidal surface, owing to inclusions of asbestos. Bloodstone; or Heliotrope.— Deep green, with spots of red. A variety of Jasper. SiLiciFiED Wood.— Petrified wood, quartz having replaced the wood. Fleches d'amour.— (Love's Arrows). Quartz with rutile (or oxide of titanium) penetrating in every direction like fine hairs. Section shovvinc; Banded Vein; displaceo bv a fault. This cut shows a vein with pay-streak which has been throw., decide inthTch dlettt ^I ^'o. iXr-anyiLtTat'^^ """^^ ^° PART VI. PRACTICAL POINTERS. REJBCTiNo That there are more vahiahle dc SAMPLES posits of mineral passed over ,m- reco^mzed. ,n each and every season, than are discovered, I believe to be a fact, at least as regards new mining territory. To old mining distnc s, where the geology, and mineralogy, have been thoroughly worked out, and where tlie com- numity m general, is familiar with the only ores existing in the territory, this of course does not apply. 1 he very first requisite to success in prospecting, is to become familiar with all the various ores and rocks by sight. Study each ore until you can recognize it at once. A GOOD The average prospector is familiar BTXLE. with at most, the ores of but two or hree metals, and will often pass by, the very tiling which would yield the best return. This comes from going to work on a wrong principle A prospector should never reject samples of veins, simply because he does not recognize the ore, as valuable. On the contrary, he should procure samples of every lode, or deposit, which he does not know positively, to be of no value and submit them to a competent mineralogist for examination. This will at any rate serve COLLKCTING SAMHLKS. lOI aluable dc- ni over un- 1, than are at least as old mining' alogy, have re the coni- 2 only ores e does not success in ith all the y each ore s familiar •ut two or the very irn. This principle, unples of )gnize the »e should sit, which no value, leralogist ite serve HOW TO SAMPLE. one good purpose— the prospector will learn what the substance is, and thus add to his knowledge. In selecting samples for assay, break small pieces from as many different parts of the deposit as possible. One sample however large, is of little value, as it will ahuost invariably be either too rich or too poor, and will therefore be misleading. Collect three to five pounds of iron, galena, gold, or silver ore, and all quartz or vein matter, thus