[Reprinted from " Proceed hi jrs of the Eiighieers' Club of Philadelphia,"
Vol. 1, No. 3. J
ROCK-SALT DEPOSIT
Of Huron and Bruce Counties, Ontario, Canada.
AbHtraot from a paper by John Hy. Hakdkn, M.K., Meml)er of the Club.
Read May 3rf, 1879.
The town of Goderich, in the county of Huron, is situated on the
eastern shore of Lake Huron, on the south bank of the river Mait-
land, at an elevation of 105 feet above the lake. The surrounding
country is entirely devoted to aj;riculture, its contour generally level
and the town covers a considerable are* of ground, having wide streets
and buildings of a superior character. (Map shown.) It is orderly,
neat, clean, and has some reputation as a summer resort.
The Buffalo & Lake Huron Branch of the Grand Trunk llailroad
from Fort Erie to Goderich (161 miles) terminates within the harbor
of Goderich, interswtiug the main line at Stratford, communicating
with the railroad systems of both Canada and the United States.
The harbor accommodation for shipping freight by water to all the
princij»al points on the Great Lukes are all that can be desired. A
glance at any good map Avill show the commercial importance of the
situation, having in view the distribution of salt, or other product, both
by rail and water, with tl>e prospect of competing more successfully
with imported and other salt producing districts less favorably endowed
by nature than Goderich.
The first notice referring to the geology of the Ontario salt region
will be found in a report by Dr. T. Sterry Hunt to the Director of the
Geological Survey of Canwla, and will be found in the published
work of the Survey, together with notices of the occurrence of rock-
salt in the United States, etc. Salt was first discovered at G^defif^U
on the 19th of May, 1866, in prospecting for oil, at a depth of 964
feet, by Mr. Samuel Piatt. In the year following, salt was discovered
at Clinton, 13 miles east, and in the succeeding year at Kincardine, in
the county of Bruce, 30 miles to the north-west, at the depths of 1136
and 900 feet respectively. At this date there are sixteen wells whose
combined product would probably reach 75,000 tons per annum, all of
which is made from brine. Hitherto one-half the pnxluct has been
exported to the United States, paying a duty of $1.60 per ton.
'2
The consumption of salt in the United States is about 47^ pounds
jser capita, and by some authorities it is estimated as high as 50 pounds.
This large consumptitm is due in a great measure to its cheapness,
together with the large quantity used in salting meats that are exported
to other countries. The consumption of salt in the United States of
all kinds and from all sources in 1877 was 990,129 gross tons; of
this quantity 417,627 tons, or 20 pounds per capita, were imported from
England, estimating the population as 46,624,000. If we estimate the
consumption of the Dominion of Canada after the same rate we must
add one-tenth, and the total consumption in the two countries would
be 1,089,142 gross tons.
- The production of salt of all kinds in the United Kingdom of Great
Britain during the years 1872 to 1876, both included, was 9,990,964
tons, valued at ^24,332,689, an average of $2.43 per ton ; during the
same time 1,015,710 tons were exported to the United States and
306,724 tons to British North America. In the soda manufacture in
1876 were consumed no less than 538,600 tons.
Production in the five principal salt districts of the United States, 1877 :
Bushels.
Michigan, . . . 8,304,485
New York, . . . 6,427,983
West Virginia, . . . 4,837,325
Ohio, . . . 2,400,350
Pennsylvania, . • • • 579,970
Total; . . . . 22,550,113
s= 563,753 gross tons. This large product was obtained from brine
by the process of evaporation.
Chemical products imported into the United States in the years 1875,
1876, 1877 and 1878 were as follows :
Year.
Quantity in Pounds.
Value, including duty.
N1875
303,257,928
$7,978,412
1.^76
278,972,675
6,470,409
1877^
317,70(5,958
6,641,851
1878
"^V 334,050,396
6,433,217
Total,
. ^, 1,233,987,957
$27,523,889
During these years the imports into the Dominion of Canada were of
the value of more than one million dollars.
Within the hwt few vearn the rm-k-salt of Gcxlerioh has been thor-
oughly prospecttnl by the Pennsylvania Diamond Drill Coni|)any, who
have taken ont samples (cores) of salt from the several beds (samples
shown). These have been analyzed by Dr. T. Sterry Hunt, and pro-
nounced by that gentleman as fit for mining. (See transactions of the
American Institute of Mining Engineers.)
The following is a section of the beds relative to the surface-level
(about 40 feet above the lake) :
ft.
In.
ft. In.
ft.
in.
First IkkI,
30
11
from
997
to
1027
11
Second bed,
25
4
1060
«
1085
4
Third bed,
34
10
1092 2
((
1127
Fourth bed,
15
5
1207 7
((
1223
Fifth bed.
13
6
1230
((
1243
Sixth bed,
6
1379
((
1385
The first consideration in the development of mining operations
would be the shaft-sinking, always an important but rarely a difficiilt
operation in ground free from water, yet under the conditions known
to exist would require special skill and appliances for overcoming the
large feeders of water known to exist within the depth of 400 feet
from the surface.
A. recent trial under the English system of sinking and pumping
the water until an impervious strata is met with, upon which to found
the water-tight lining (tubbing), has already proved its impracticability
within estimates to be relied upon. In this attempt, after spending
nearly $70,000 and attaining a depth of about 150 feet, Avith a clear
diameter of 10 feet 6 inches, the work was abandoned in consequence
of the overpowering influx of water under conditions not provided for.
The writer, therefore, is of opinion that no known method of dealing
with such a work is so applicable as that of " Kind Chandran,"
described in the Transactions of the American Institute of Mining
Engineers by Mr. Julian Ddby. By this process, already well estab-
lished in other countries, reliable estimates can be formed as to the
cost and duration of the work.
In comparison with mines in this country, in England and on the
continent of Europe, 400 yards is not very deep.
The deepest mine in the United States is on the Comstock Lode,
Nevada, 783 yards. In England, Rosebridge Colliery, Lancashire,
815 yanlrt. On tlie oontineiit of Europe, Adalbert, Austria, 1093
yards. Proponed Hhaft at (io<lerich, 400 yards.
Depth has betui found to interfere witli mining operations only when
adequate provisions for ventilation and drainage have been wanting.
The construction of the ingress or egress to a mine is of the utmost
importance. Through it we not only raise the mineral," pump the
water and ventilate the workings, but it is also the means of entrance
or exit for those engaged in raining. Shafts are sunk in various shapes
and sizes, the circular form being best adapted to sustain heavy pres-
sures. The design of twelve feet will give ample accommodations for
hoisting, ventilation and drainage. There are, however, objections to
single shafts, as it affords but one outlet for those working underground;
for that reason the mining laws of England and Pennsylvania |)ermit
operations to be carried on through a single oj)ening only under certain
restrictions. There is less objection to a salt mine worked through a single
outlet than to a coal mine, for which these laws were especially framed,
for obvious reasons. The depth from the surface and the impervious
strata between the salt beds and the feeders of water will protect the
workings from any influx from that source. Proper pillars of extra
size will be allowed to remain to protect the shaft.
The known regularity of the salt beds, prove<l by a number of bore
holes in different location^5, and the observed regularity of the stratifi-
cation agree so well that we miy feel confident that mining may be
carried on with success.
Mining will be regulated by the demand and the seasons of naviga-
tion on the Lakes, usually from six to seven months.
The plant designed for this work contemplated a speed for hoisting
the mineral at, 2000 feet per minute, extracting in cars of two tons
each, 100 tons per hour or 1000 tons per day ; for 200 days =i 200,000
tons. The speed of hoisting 2000 feet per minute, 33^ feet i>er second
or nearly 23 miles an hour, is much exceeded in many coal mines.
Tl\e engines at the Rosebridge Colliery, Lancashire, lift coal from a
depth of 2418 feet in 55 seconds =*: 43^^ feet per second, nearly 30
miles an hour.
The specific gravity of the rock-salt in question, as given by Dr. T.
Sterry Hunt, is 2*125, and a square acre one foot thick would yield
2582 gross tons. The second bed of salt, destiribed by the same
authority, as " entirely fit for mining, and in some parts of remarkable
purity : chloride of sodium 99'687, chloride of calcium '032, chloride
of nnxiioHui 'OD.i, siilphute of lime 'OOO, iiiHolublu in wator '017, moirt-
ture '079, or le-w tlmn oiHj-qmirter of tmc |)er wMit. of impurity ; it w
2") fetit 4 incluw thick." The third hetl, 34 feet 10 iiichcH thiclc, is
described us " rtoinewhat less pure, but witii a little mre in sorting might
prolwibly be useil for all ordinal y purjioses." These two beds could be
mined to;5ether, leaving a stratum of salt in the roof and floor of both,
the pillars in eu^h working being direetly above or below the other ;
by this m'.»ns 20 feat <»f the se(H»nd an<l 25 feet of the third l^ed C(mld
be wrought with advantage deducting 33 per cent, for pillars, the pro-
duct from one acre would yield 37,342 gross tons. The absence of
noxious gjk<es, so freely generated in coal mines, as well as those con-
ditions requiring the use of large quantities of timl>er for supjwrts are
lulvantages to be considered.
At the present time the cost of mining should not exceed eighty
cents or one dollar |)er ton, as follows : •• , '
;. Miner, 6 days, @ $1.50, . „ . $9 00
Ljil)orer, 6 days, @ $1.00, . ,, 6 00 , ,
Supplies, 6 days, . , , * , ^, , . 3 96 .^^^^
' Total, ' . ' . *'" . ' '"' . $18 96 '• •^'
Estimating the product of six days' work at 60 tons = 31^^ cents
iieip ton " ' " *" ** '"*'■: '' ' "*" "' •" ^i*""'"'! m^^t^ »»♦.
Estimated cost of producing one ton of salt fit for market :
Mining, . . • , . 31*36 cts.
Putting, . • . , 20-64 "
Preparing, . . ' . . 28-00 "
Total cents, . . ' . -. 80-00 > -"^■
In 1877 the clieapest product of American salt (Michigan), much
inferior to that of Goderich, sold for fifty to sixty cents per barrel of
280 pounds = $4.40 pLT ton. This cheap rate of production is, in a
great measure, due to the use of an otherwise waste product (slabs,
sawdust and exhaust steam from the lumber mills) a.s fuel. Neceswa-
rily there will come a time when this source of fuel will be exhausted.
In 1877 New York salt sold foi* the lowast price ever known before
that date, 79 cents par barrel = $6.32 per ton. In 1878 Mr. A. C.
Powell, superintendent of the Onondaga Salt Springs, states the results
of the year's work to be 50 to 55 bushels of salt per ton of coal, cost-
ing eight cents per bushel = $3.20 per ton. If these figures are cor-
mc'i, it \H Hcarcely iKXHrtible that Michipin <'an |)r«Mluco mo clicapiy. In
1877 the lowcHt vahie ever realized on inn)()rte(l salt, iiichidiii); duty,
wiw $9.30 on paekajj^eH and 1$4'48 [M^r ton in hulk. The average value
of Halt imported into Canada during the year ending June, 1877, was
$4.66 |)er ton. The lowest price for which Hidt hits ever been sold at
Gmlerieh was $2.40 per ton, f.o. 1). To this, if exported to the Unite<l
States, ad«l $1.60 duty, total $4.00. The price now, April, 187$), is
$3.00 per ton, f.o.h. From these figures we may s:ifely estimate the
cost of mining and preparing at $1.00 and the selling price, f. o. b.,
$2.40.
The total astimated cost of oi)cning a mine etpial to the extra(;tion of
200,000 tons per atmuin Avould Ik* $250,000; time, 3J years; capitid
re<iuiretl, $350,000 to $400,000. Lands of a fine agricultural charac-
ter, underlaid with rock salt, can bo i)urchaswl for $400 yter acre.
Within a year rock-salt has l)een discoverinl nesir the village of
Wyoming, on the Rochester and State Line R-iilroad, in the Stnte of
New York. It was penetrated in search of oil, at the depth of 1270
feet, and is said to be 70 feet thick. An antdysis of a sample by F.
E. Englehardt, Ph.D., chemist to the Dairy St It Company, of Syra-
cuse, is as follows: insoluble matter 3"276, sulphite of lime 1*696,
chloride of calcium "413, chloride of magnesium '556, moisture and
loss '319, pure salt (chloride of s(xlium) 93*740. Thus there are nearly
6 per cent of impurities, while the Goderich salt contains less tlnn ^
of one i)er cent.
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