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/^-

(TRANSACl'IONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF MINING ENGI

SEER&J

SILVER ISLET:

THOMAS MACFARLANE.

WITH ILLUSTRATIONS, ETC.

1: . :

•

MONTREAL:

•

DAWSON BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS.

1880.

■.Sf

I'm'-i

K'i ■* ■ '.-

V^iW^'^Tfj

;.':1

tTRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OP MINING ENOINEEIW.l

SILVER ISLET.

DY THOMAS MACFARLAKE, AOTONVALB, QUEBEC, CANADA.

(Read at the Montreal Meeting, Srpteiuher, 1879.)

I. Introduction.

Among the industrial enterprises wliich have, from time to time,
been undertaken in our Dominion, few have been more uniformly
unsuccessful than those which have had for their object the develop-
ment of our mineral resources. These resources have not been re-
garded as insignificant. On the contrary, it is supposed that we
possess in our ore deposits something more than mere points of
mineralogical interest. Some people are enthusiastic enough to be-
lieve that our mineral wealth will yet occasion the establishment
in our backwoods of happy and industrious communities, causing,
in fact, our wilderness to blossom as the rose. These enthusiasts do
not shut their eyes to the serious obstacles which at every stage in-
terfere with the carrying out of mining enterprises in this country,
and which tempt one to believe that no such enterprise can ever be
conducted to a desirable end, but they entertain the conviction
that as our capitalists, miners, and technologists reach the years of
discretion, and handle our mines in an economical, vigorous, t-\
judicious manner, and as our statesmen become alive to the necessitj
of fostering, without extremely protecting, our metallurgical indus-
tries, mines and furnaces will gradually prosper, and so develop as
to become a tower of strength to our agricultural, manufacturing,
and mercantile interests.

The fact that our past experience does not generally justify such
glowing anticipations makes one all the more anxious to put on
record the history of a successful mine, such as the Silver Islet
has, on the whole, been. My connection with its discovery and
early development was a very intimate one, and I propose in this
paper to sketch its history and character, and sum up the amount
of silver it has so far yielded. An additional reason for the
appearance of this paper is that the Transactions of the Institute

i^ —

Lttlt ll¥tt U-

TMUMOtH CAPt lAtT tNO

.s'F.CTJON ON lisp: A B

WOODS KOC^llOK

. By Thomas Macthrlnne
scAie 20OO rttT to ah inch
EXPLANATIOXS
fi'ivy (iit/tUticfoii-v ■S'ltiitftitotieit ami >9h(ile.s

('onulonii-iufr

^ A

Rf<l (uitl H'Jutf dotomitie Sanilnlmncs nn(t S'/ui/es CI,"

Ch'rttf l.imestfine 'IRIP

Ituiiiroted Ma/7 m/A while Sundstane F" 1

I) tvnte. Hi/pen te an/l (hiAitf . | , 1

.Inorthitt' I'oiphifrif .'flHI

Metalli/hous Vcm.s ' ^i^.;; ^

L<iAes, •V/ir////>v, iiiul .llhuinni I'molfiifd

Theltue a /j .t/tnt:': the stnh' c the ihfxftfi sfttt/a V*"

ExplvratUm Liiie.f thus

K E

yK"

S V

«'^';K

,°c=>

<cO

KCTION ON LISK AH

ronK tAt

B V

E « ion

■?! C^

SU^/lJi M^ll)i

SCALE.80 FEET TO AN INCH

Thf rifhfUiH (it'(h> vrin i.t roUirrii ilark- hiar
ft S'/iit/t ftnft \hiifihmisr hSIx/r /or- /mrif .

SILVER IHr.ET.

contain only ji few references to the Silver Islet Mine. Altliougli
this mine is reported successful, we liave, of course, no jruiirnntee
that it shall not full a victim to the same intliienees which have
ruined other promising Canadian mines in days gone by. It is
iinneccssary to specify those influences. They are well known to
all those who take any interest in the mining of the present day,
and they are essentially tin; same as those which discouraged the
miners of a century ago. Above the entrance of the silver smelting
house of Kongsherg, in Norway, there is to he found an inscrip-
tion upon an old stone, which had hecn taken from a similar posi-
tion in the huildiny; which had been used tor a century before the
present one. This inscription dates from tin; time whei\ German
miners were brought north to work the Kongsberg silver mines.
It is as follows :

" Kiijonnut/. tincl Miissi>fi,'(imj
1st lie.-* HiTj^wcrks l' iitcriiniiii,"

which mav be rendered thus:

" St'ltlslitipss unci lllzill('s^l
Spctil the inininj; business "

Long before 18fKS, the year of the discovery of Silver Islet vein, sil-
ver had been found on the northwest shores of Lake Superior. When,
in 1846, the lands of the Montreal Mining Company were located,
silver was reported as having been found on several of its properties.
Later, the British American Mining Cojupany worked the silver
vein of Prince's Location, with the results recorded in the publica-
tions of the Geological Survey of Canada.* The revival, ten years
ago, of silver mining on Lake Superior was, however, occasioned by
the success of the Messrs. McKellar, of Fort William, who, from 1863
to 1867, employed themselves in exploring the neighborhood of
Thunder Bay, and discovered silver at several points. One of these
discoveries, at Current River, was worked by the Thunder Bay Sil-
ver Mining Company in 1868 and the year following, but with very
discouraging results. It was, in all likelihood, the McKellar dis-
coveries, together with the imposition by the Ontario Gov^ernment of
a tax of two cents per acre on Lake Superior mining lands, which
prompted the Montreal Mining Company to begin a systematic ex-
ploration of their northwestern locations. For twenty-two years
these had been allowed to lie almost entirely neglected. Several of

* Geology of Canadft, 1803, p. 707.

them were in
Marie, and t
such as to en
tions. Inde(
resources wei
Bruce Coppc
they experiei
sufficient to
holders to ri
above given
erate outlay i
ployed by tli
During the I
tions, and it i
first ex pi or in
suits for Noi
the other locj

II. EXPLOR

On the 16
besides my.se
Algoma, whii
working theO
and the Shur
of the men oi
five silver ar
Mackinaw bo
My first imp
district were
composed of
lying in an a!
thing of vail
inclined and
conglomerate
remunerative
gists, who ha(
ro(!ks of thslt i
ideas to inter]

* With rf'giir
suiting the accoi

BILVER I«I,F,T. 8

them wore indcpd visitc«l nnd explored by Mr. Pilji;rim, of Saiilt St.
MftHe, nnd the Inte Mr. Iff-rrlck, IM^.S., hut the rcsidt.-* were not
sneh jvs to oneournge the (jonipuny to proece*! to active miniiij^ opera-
tions. Indeed, (hiring the greater part of this time the eoinpany'.H
resources were taxed to tlic utmost in developing and working the
Bruee Copper Mines. It may safely he asserted that in doing this
they experienced n dead loss of .^400,000, a fact which is abundantly
sufficient to account for the unwillingness of tin- Ixiard and share-
holders to risk further capital in mining operations. The cause.<i
above given were, however, enough to induce tluun to incur a mod-
erate outlay for exploring their lands, ami (iarly in 1808 I was em-
ployed by the company to take charge of a party for this purpose.
During the first year I was able to visit all the northwestern loca-
tions, and it may not bo uninteresting here to give a narrative of our
first exploring voyage, from whicfh have sprung such important re-
sults for Northwestern Ontario, reciting our experiences regarding
the other locations, as well as the one to which Silver Islet Injlongs.

II. EXPI^ORATION OF 1808 AXD Dl.SCOVRRY OF SlI.VER Isi.ET.

On the IGth of May our exploring party, consisting of six men
besides mvself, arrived in Thunder Bav, on board the steamer
Algoma, which was heavily freighted with njen and materials for
working the Thunder Bay Company's Mine. After visiting the latter
and the Shuniah (now the Duncan) Mine, and calling the attention
of the men of our party to the appearance and characters of the na-
tive silver and silver glance produced by them, we started in our
Mackinaw boat on the 19th south westward for Jarvis's Location.*
My first impressions as to the mineral resources of Thunder Bay
district were not at all encouraging. With a country rock mainly
compo.sed of grayish flags and red and white sandstones, and these
lying in an almost horizontal position, the chances tor finding any-
thing of value seemed very slender to one accustomed to highly
inclined and crystalline rocks. T remembered, however, that the
conjglomerate beds of Keweenaw Point, now the most productive and
remunerative for copper, had originally been undervalued by geolo-
gists, who had never before observed valuable minerals to occur in
rocks of thdt nature, and resolved to beware of allowing preconceived
ideas to interfere with the thoroutrhness of our search.

* With rpyiird to this urul otliiT loeiditio.s, tlioir poi^itions will be seen on con-
Bulling the accompunying .sniiiU iniip of part of the north .shor<' of Lako Superior.

-s

SILVER ISI.ET.

From the 20th to the 31st of May, inclusive, we remained on
Jarvis's Location, examining; its rocks, surveying the river from its
mouth to where it leaves the location, and exploring Jarvis's Island,
with the numerous veins occurring there. The geology of this loca-
tion much resembles that of the western part of Wood's Location,*
having the sjuuc gray argillaceous sandstones and shales, intersected
by dikes of different sorts. The latter have here the same general
strike as on Wood's Location, and it appears evident that they run
through the range of islands which extends from Shangoinah Island
and Silver Islet, on Wood's Location, past the outside of Pie Island
to Prince Albert or Thompson's Island ; then, still further southwest
through Spar Island, Jarvis's Island and Victoria Island, joining the
mainland before Pigeon Kiver is reached. On Jarvis's Island five
different veins were found, and in one of them native silver and silver
glance were discovered (the former by Mr., now Dr., C. O. Brown,
and the latter by Mr. Patrick Hogan), specimens of which were for-
warded to Montreal. The quantity appeared at the time insufficient
to merit much attention, but, from the experience afterwards ac-
quired on Wood's Location, I was induced to believe that some
work upon this vein might possibly develop a larger quantity of
the metal. Accordingly, in 18(59, a shaft was sunk on this vein to
the depth of twelve feet, in accomplishing which work the following
ore was produced. . .

79 lbs first quality orf, contiiiniiiu; 8.45 per cent, silver = 39.7 ounces,

(It $1.25, $49.fi2

2488 lb?, spccnd quiility ore, ooiitainiing 0.15 per cent, silver = 54. 18

ounce.s, Ht $1.25, 67.72

$117.34

On the 1st of June we left Jarvis's for Stewart's Location, at Pigeon
River, where we remained until the 21st, making a very close explor-
ation for a distance of three miles inland. The number of dikes
and vein.s here visible in<lnced me to anticipate the best results, but
although a good deal of time was spent on some of the veins none of
them yielded any valuable minerals. High rocky ranges intersect
this location generally in the direction of the dikes, and between
them lie valleys containing a large area of good soil, much of which
will no doubt be cultivated so soon as mining operations are carried
on successful ly in the neighborhood.

On the 21st of June we returned to Fort William, and on the 23d

* Canadinn Naturalist, IV, N. S., p. 87.

SILVER ISLET.

reached Thunder Cape and "Wood's Location, where we remained
until 31 St. July. From perusing the Geology of Cahada I had, be-
fore arriving on the location, come to the conclusion that it was liUely
to present nmny interesting geological features. Here it was to be
expected that the junction of Sir W. E. Logan's upper and lower
groups of the Upper Copper-bearing rocks would occur, and that the
many intei-secting dikes and the trap overflow of Thunder Cape
would be found to present interesting relations to the sedimentary
rocks. I therefore determined to nmke a complete geological map of
Wood's Location, and arranged with my assistant, Mr. Gerald C.
Brown, to have the shore line accurately surveyed. It was while
engaged planting his pickets on the many islands fronting the loca-
tion that Mr. Brown finst landed on the rock shortly afterwards
named by me " Silver Islet," and observed the vein and the galena
occurring in it. I then visited the island to obtain .specimens of the
galena and the inclosing rock, and three men were set to work to
blast out some of the galena. It was while engaged working on
the Islet that one of these men, Mr. John Morgan, found the first
nuggets of metallic silver, close to the water's edge. A single blast
was sufficient to detach all the vein rock carrying ore above the sur-
face of the water, but further out large black patches could be ob-
served in the vein under water, some of them with a greenish
tinge. On detaching and fishing up pieces of these they were found
to consistof galena, with which were intermixed spots of an oxidized
black mineral, here and there tinged with green. This black sub-
stance I succeeded in reducing on charcoal, before the blowpipe, with
a little borax, to metallic silver, thus exposing at once the extraor-
dinary richness of the black portions of the vein. I deem it worth
while thus to record, more particularly than heretofore, the circum-
.stiuices of the <liscovery, on account of the celebrity which Silver
Islet has sin(;e attained. The silver was discovered on the 10th of
July, and on the 15th three packages of the best specimens were
shipped from Fort William to Montreal, and a telegram sent at the
same time to the company's secretary giving notice of the important
di.scoverv.

A marked difference is observable between the geological structure
of the locations to the southwest and tho.se to the northeast or east
of Wood's Location. The conglomerate and red sandstones which
constitute the ca.stern part of the latter are, further to the eastward,
overlaid by numerous beds of different species of basic crystalline
rock, most of them bearing some resend)lan('<^ to those of the dikes

.ijr

SILVER ISLET. J

occurring on Wood's Location. Derbyshire's, Merritt's, Ewart's,
Ferrier's, Harrison's, Turner's, and Wilson's locations all show the
sandstones with superincumbent overflows of basic rock, while
Hopkirk's, Lyman's, Bagg's, and McGill's are exclusively made up
of the latter, together with some beds of a trachytic nature.

The first of the eastern locations, Derbyshire's, on Point Porphyry,
was reached on the 31st of July. The most of the veins indicated
by previous explorers were carefully examined. Native copper and
copper glance were the minerals of importance observed, but only in
minute specks. It is to be regretted that the mention of the occur-
rence of native silver on this location, contained in former reports,
leaves the precise spot unindicated. We left this location on the
4th of August, but were unable to reach Fluor Island until the even-
ing of the 5th.

From that date till the 15th of August our party camped on Hop-
kirk's Location, Fluor Island. Its rocks are mostly hard and com-
pact traps, and amygdaloidal beds are rare. No economic minerals
were observed in the veins or rocks of this location, excepting a few
specks of native copper and iron pyrites. An excursion was made
from Fluor Island to the locations on Nipigon Straits. On Lyman's
Location only one vein of respectable size was found, upon which
several openings had been made. A little copper glance only was
observed, but the character of the veinstone somewhat resembles that
of Silver Islet. On Merritt's Location no veins were observed along
the shore, but at its northwest corner an old drift was found choked
up with rubbish. At numerous points along the shore of Ewart's
Location metallic copper was found in trappean rocks, but mostly
unconnected with any regular vein orbed. At only one point was it
observed that the copper ran in a streak conformable with the strati-
fication of the adjoining rocks, and here it was in deficient quantity.
Observations similar to these were made at the workings north of
Point a la Gourgaune, and on the shore of Bagg's Location.

Shortly after returning from Nipigon Straits, we left Fluor Island,
and on the 19th of August arrived at Harrison's Location on the
east end of Isle St. Ignace. Of all the northwestern locations it is
the one of which the best accounts are given in the old reports. We
remained upon it ten days, part of the time at Harrison's Landing,
on the south part, and the remainder at Moff'att's Harbor, on the
northeast shore of the location. A day was spent in examining the
shore of Simpson's Island on the opposite side of St. Ignace Straits.
More excavation has been done, buildings erected, and money spent,

SILVER ISLET.

on Harrison's Location than on any of the others. It is, however, very
iliHiciilt to find traces of any minerals sufficiently valuable to justify
the expenditures which have been made here. Several shafts have
been sunk eastward from Harrison's Landing, but a careful search
in the veinstone from these failed to show more than a few minute
grains of copper pyrites. Along the shore, in the neighborhood of
these shafts, loose pieces of veinstone were found, containing copj)er
glance, sometimes in pretty solid " prills," the source of which was
found to be a vein about thirty feet distant from the shore, under
water. Further search was made by us and considerable excavation
done on its apparent strike to the eastward, but without suctiess. No
silver was visible along with the copper glance in the boulders, or in
the vein under water. The so-called silver veins o(!curring to the
north of Moffatt's Harbor were found to be of a peculiar description.
I.istead of being several feet in width, as described in the old reports,
none of them exceed two or three inches. Some of them occur
within three or four feet of each other, and the intervening rock has
evidently been regarded as part of the vein and included in its al-
leged width. The three shafts sunk here were full of water and rub-
bish, and we had not the necessary appliances for emptying them. A
thorough examination was made of the veins on the surface, and
blasting done on them, which exposed finely disseminated particles of
copper glance. Among the debris on the shore a small piece of vein-
stone was found containing native silver.

On the 29th of August we left Moffatt's Harbor, and sailing past the
north ends of Simpson's and Salter's Islands, reached " North
Harbor," on Wilson's Location. Here we remained fifteen days,
making a close examination of Wilson's Island and of those lying
to the north of it. Numerous veins were found, some of tijem of
good width, containing calcspar, quartz, and laumontite, but no me-
tallic minerals. In several of the amygdaloid beds metallic copper
was found; once on the northwest shore of Wilson's Island it oc-
curred in tolerable quantity, but still not sufficient to be remunera-
tive.

We left Wilson's Location on the 14thof September, and the same
day reached Morin Harbor, on Simpson's Island. Six <luys were
employed in examining McGill's Location. Its rocks are principally
hard agatic traps, with but little indication of copper, except an oc-
casional speck in an agate geode. Numerous veins are visible,
sometimes with copper glance in very small quantity. About half-
way along the front of the location from Morin Harbor a good many

SILVER ISLET, #

pieces of prchnite containing pretty solid native copper were found
on the shore. These are derived from a bed of compact trap, con-
taining large geodes with quartz, hxumontite, calcspar, native copper,
etc. The number of the geodes is, however, too small to render the
mass of the rock workable. On the southwest end of the location,
near Woodl)ine Harbor, characteristic basalt was, for the first time,
observed, showing both straight and bent columns.

Although we were unsuccessful in discovering any valuable de-
posits on the territory east of Silver Islet, it would be quite erro-
neous to infer their entire absence. The time devoted to the explo-
ration of this district was too short to allow of exhaustive work,
rndood, this exploration was felt at the time to be merely a recon-
noissance, propai'atory to more effective work after the locations had
been rcguliiriy defined by a provincial land surveyor. These surveys
were afterwards cotnpleted, but the explorations were not resumed.
It must further be remembered, that the mineral lands in question
are densely wooded, and covered by a thick layer of moss almost to
the water's edge. These obstacles (which are seldom met with by
western explorers) interfere materially with a thorough search.
They are sometimes removed by forest fires, and it is probable that,
after the occurrence of these, a diligent " prospecting" for minerals
would be well rewarded.

On account of very stormy weather we did not reach the steam-
boat landing, Isle St. Ignace, uutil the 23d of September, three
days after leaving McGill's Location. The Algoma was due on the
24tli, but (lid not arrive till the 26th. After going west to Fort
William, and hiiiving our boat, portable forge, and other heavy
articles there, we left Thunder Bay on the 27th of September, en
route ibr Montreal.

III. Geology of SiiiVKR Islet and its Vein.

My plan as to a geological survey of Wood's Location was, during
the following season (1869), carried to completion, and the results
pul)lislK'<l in the Canadian Naturalist (vol. iv), accompanied by a
map of the location and plan of Silver Islet, the latter of which is
republished herewith. Silver Islet is situated about three-quarters
oi" a mile from the mainland, and is much exposed to storms from
the west, southwest, and east. Shangoinah Island protects it, but
inelHciently, on the southwest. The island measured originally about
ninety feet each way, rising about eight feet at its highest part above

SILVER ISLET.

the level of the lake. The whole of the rock is now inclosed and
covered by the works erected for protecting and working the mine,
and by new land since made. The course of the vein traversing
the Islet is about N. 35° W., and its dip about 85° S.E. As

SILVER ISLET

IN 1869.

SCALt, SO FEET TO AN INCH.

The rich part of the vein ta indicated thu*
a, Shaft <t Shaft Jlouse; b, Slide for boat.

shown it) the plan, its greatest width is on the northwest side of the
islet, and it will be seen that in going southward it divides into
two branches, one of which crosses the \fAet, and the other keeps on
the west side, under water. The south part of the latter branch
carried the richest ore, the eastern branch l)eing less rich, and the
whole of the vein to the northward being almost entirely barren,
and consisting of a huge mass of calcspar, with quartz and occasional
cubes of galena, which carry only a minute quantity of silver. Par-
ticles of silver ore were also found in come of the small "feeders"
which intersect the country rock (or perhaps " horse") lying between
the two veins. Fragments and masses of this rock are very often in-
closed in the veinstone, and graphite very frequently associates itself
with them.

The metallic minerals of the veins are silver, silver glance, tetra-
hedrite, domeykite, galena, blende, iron and copper pyrites, cobalt
bloom, and nickel green. The two latter substances seemed to be
oxidation-jiroducts of ii pi'culiar mineral, which, in a paper published

SILVER ISLET.

)

in the Canadian Naturalist, and dated Ist February, 1870, I de-
scribed as follows : " Besides the small nuggets and grains of pure
metallic silver, there are also found in the rich ore, thin plates and
grains of a sectile mineral, having a reddish-brown color, like that
of niccolite, and containing arsenic, cobalt, nickel, and silver, with
the latter in greatest quantity. This would appear to be a new
mineral and one worthy of more minute examination." When active
work was begun by the Silver Islet Mining Company, it was found
that the great bulk of the silver extracted was contained in a granu-
lar mixture of the reddish -colored grains above mentioned with
other minerals. The late Major A. H. Sibley — then president of
the company — gave this mixture the name of " Macfarlanite,"
which is still used for it by superintendent and workmen at the mine
up to the present time. In the Engineering and Mining Journal of
29th March last, Mr. W. M. Courtis published a paper on Lake
Superior silver ores, in which this supposed new mineral is also
referred to as " Macfarlanite." For these reasons it would seem
necessary to refer to this substance more particularly. In December,
1870, I made an examination of the brown metallic grains which
the rich ore above referred to leaves when pulverized in a diamond
mortar, and all brittle minerals, such as calcspar, galena, etc., sifted
or washed oif. A blowpipe assay showed these to contain :

Silver, 78.34

Nickel, 0.98

Cobalt, 2.76

Arsenic, etc. (difference), .... 12.93

100.00

I made some further trials, but was unsuccessful in separating
any definite mineral.

In December last Dr. T. Sterry Hunt informed me of the dis-
covery of the new minerals in Silver Islet ore by Dr. Wurtz, and
showed me a specimen of " Huntelite" which seemed to me to occur
in larger pieces, and to be different from the reddish grains occurring
in the ore known as ** Macfarlanite."

On subjecting the rich granular ore of Silver Islet to closer
examination, assisted by Mr. W. M. Courtis, I found it to con-
sist of the reddish-brown metallic grains, a dark-colored unde-
termined mineral, niccolite, galena, calcspar and quartz. Native
silver in perfectly white grains or filaments is not distinctly seen.
Pieces of the ore, upon being ground and polished, show the

SILVER ISLET.

metallic grains with a color and lustre closely resembling bur-
nished nickel. When the calcspar, which is the principal gangue,
is removed by dilute hydrochloric acid, the result is porous and
coherent. The metallic minerals adhere to each other and to the
metallic grains, the latter seeming to be in places coated or incrusted
with the dark -colored mineral and the niccolite. Under the hammer,
the metallic grains flatten out, and the glass shows that both brown
and black brittle grains have separated. Still, in this process, all
the metallic minerals do not seem removable, but adhere, more or
less flrmly, to the metallic grains.

When the ore is pulverized, and the metallic grains are freed from
all brittle materials, the latter being sifted and washed off, they as^say
from 75 to 84 per cent, of silver. When these are further triturated
in an iron mortar six different times, and the brittle matter removed
by sifting on a sieve with 50 meshes to the lineal inch, the siftings
thus produced assay as follows :

Ist time,
2d "
3d "
4th "
5th "
6th "

46.41 per cent silver.
51.55 " "

59.25 " "

t56.24 - " "

7(5.1 " "

83.7 " "

The grains remaining upon the sieve from the last trituration
have a dark-gray color and assay 92.04 per cent, silver. When
roasted in a muffle they become yellowish-brown. Hydrochloric
acid removes nickel oxide, and then they have the appearance of
pure silver grains. In this process they lose 6.94 per cent, of their
weight, and assay 95.76 per cent, silver. Triturated a second time
in this manner they lose 2.12 per cent, additional, and assay 97.42
percent, silver. From this it is evident that they assume the appear-
ance of metallicsilver on the surface only, and are not pure through-
out. The grains of 92.04 per cent, when treated alone on charcoal,
before the blowpipe, merely cake together, yielding a slight coating
of arsenious acid. When a small quantity of borax is added, a silver
button is produced, with some speiss attached, and a slag slightly
tinged with cobalt oxide. Most of the nickel is removed in the
speiss, but the silver .still retains some of it, and upon cooling shows
a greenish-gray film. This is removed by a further slight scoriti-
eation with borax, and 91.33 per cent, silver is obtained. The
grains of 92.04 per cent, silver dissolve readily in dilute nitric acid,
yielding the following results :

a
r

ii
t(

s
c

SILVER ISLET.

' ■.

Insoluble (assays 17.46 p«r centJAg.), . . '2.S7
Nickel, . , . . > . . . 1.58

Antimony, 36

Silver, 98.54

Arsenic, 2.15

100.00

When the metallic grains first above alluded to are treated with
dihite nitric acid (half acid, half water), and its action interrupted
when about half the quantity is dissolved, a considerable quantity of
a black powder is detached ; much nickel is dissolved, and the
remaining grains have the appearance of pure silver, but still show-
ing black specks, especially in the cavities. These grains were found
to consist of:

Insoluble, ....... 1.86

Silver, 94 77

Antimony, 85

Nickel, 95

Arsenic (difference), 1.65

100.00

A quantity of the metallic grains were acted on by three succes-
sive portions of very dilute nitric acid. The resulting solutions
contained as follows :

1. Silver, 37.646

Mercury, 649

Arsenic, 6.898

Antimony, ...... 166

Nickel, 4.661

49.520

2. Silver, 33.692

Mercury, 099

Antimony, 059

Nickel 1.220

35.070

3. Silver, 5.403

Antimony, trace

Nickel, trace

5,403

.4. Insoluble quarlz gniins, etc., . . 6.203

• ' Black mineral washed off, . . . 3.756

9.959

99.952

8ILVKK ISLET.

The black substance \vashe<l off frorn the hirger grains of quartz
contains antimony, lead, cobalt, nickel, and sulphur, besides 24.79
per cent, of silver.

From the above experiments the great difficulty of separating the
various minerals which occur in the rich ore of Silver Islet will be
apparent. It seems to me to contain a great deal of its silver in the
native state, which passes into the animihlte of Professor Wurtz.
Further investigation may possibly give more decided results.

With regard to the general nature of the ore yielded by the vein
after sorting, one parcel of second quality — weighing 15,914 pounds,
and assaying 1)()4.2 ounces silver — was found to contain 71.5 per
cent, of earthy carbonates and 14.15 per cent, of matter insoluble in
acids. The relative quantity of calcareous and silicious matter
varies, howeve.', in different parts of the vein ; and, in some places,
streaks of quartz have preponderated to such an extent as to make
some of the ore highly silicious, and much more difficult to smelt.

The rock on the Islet intersected by the silver vein is a chloritic
diorite, evidently forming a dike. It differs somewhat from the
rocks of the other dikes of this location, among which may be men-
tioned corsyteand anorthite porphyry. Judging from their manner
of occurrence, it did not appear likely, when the discovery was first
made, that the diorite of Silver Islet would be found to have a
greater breadth than two hundred feet on the length of the vein.
Outside of this distance it was anticipated that the vein would be
found to intersect the gray flags, which fill out all the spaces between
the various dikes. It was further thought unlikely that the Silver
Islet vein, on reaching these flags, would exhibit the same degree of
richness as previously. The continuation of Silver Islet vein across
Burnt Island (which is identical with one shown on an old map of
the location by Mr. Wilkinson), and also further inland, was traced
out in 1869. It has been exposed at several points where it crosses
the sedimentary beds, but there it is split up into numerous thin
veins of quartz, and shows nothing of the great width which it car-
ries on Silver Islet, nor have any of the rich silver minerals of that
locality yet been found upon the mainland, or upon Burnt Island.

The experience gained in the working of Silver Islet Mine, since
its discovery, has, in the main, confirmed the descriptitm here given
of its geological relations. This will be seen in consulting the
accompanying longitudinal section of the mine by Mr. W. M. Cour-
tis, first [)ublislied in the Enyineer'mg and Mininy Journal of 21st
December, 1878.

SILVER IHIiET.

It will be observed that t\\o diorito tliko dip^ at a high angle
southward, and that the workings have never been proflnetive out-
side of it. Indeed, there are large areas of the vein inclosed by dio-
rite walls on Ixith sides whieh have yielded no ore. Ft is necessary

THE SII.VKR ISI.KT MINK, I.'tNOll TDINAl, SKCTtON.

to mention that the vein itself dips at a high angle to the eastward,
and that Mr. Courtis's section shows the rocks adjoining the vein
upon the hanging-wall only. On the west side of the vein it has
been fotuid that the diorite extends further south than on the hang-
ing-wall. The line of the vein is, therefore, also the line of a fault,

SILVER IHLET.

which has moved the rooks on the w«Mt, or rather southwest, side of
the vein eijijhty teet to the sontheast, as shown in the accotnpanyit)^
sketch, which indicates ronj^hly the relative positions of rocks and
vein below the " 5th level."

It is worthy of remark that the rocks intersected by the dioritc
dike are not highly inclined, semicrystallize<l slate, bnt are almost
horizontal flaj:,stones and shales.

The Silver Islet vein has exhibited a most remarkable phenome-
non, which deserves mention here. The following is a description of
it, taken from a letter dated 28th January, 1876, from Mr. W. R.
Frue to the writer :

"On December 28th, while a party of miners were engaged in drill-
ing a hole in the end of the drift on the * 8th level,' the drill broke
through into a small crevice or ' vug.' Water at once commenced to
flow, — not in great quantity, however, — and one of the miners took a
candle to look into the drill-hole, not being aware that there was a
large escape of gas with the water. The gas instantly took fire, send-
ing a flame out from the end of the drift for more than fortv feet. The
men, of course, threw themselves down on the bottom of the drift,
and reniained there uninjured initil the flame subsided, and then
went out to the shaft. After they had got over their fright, they

HILVKR l«I,KT.

est, sido «»r
rocks 1111(1

ones
lales

lie rlioritc
re almost,

)henomf-
ription of
r. W. R.

I in drill-
ill hroUc
leiK'ed t(»
;rs took a
ro was a
re, sciid-
et. TIh!
he drift,
mid tlion
lit, they

undert(M)k to return into the drifV, hiit when within forty feet of the
end of th(> drift, the ^a» apiin ijijnite<l, fdlin^ the level with Haine to
within thre<! teet of its hottom ; the flame i'xtendinj^ alon^jf the hack
of the drift, and hiirnin^ for a distani'e of one hundred and fd^y feet
towards the shaft. The men ajjain took shelter hy throwing them-
selves down on the bottom of the level. Some time after this the
men walked into and through the entire length of the drift without
any light, and inserted a wooden |)lug in the hole through which the
va[K)r and water were escaping. On the following day no gas was
discovered in the drift, until a eaiullc was brought close to the plug
in the end of the level, when the gas again caught lire, giving a jet
or flame about one foot long, which has been burning ever sin(!e."

This is, I believe, the first instance' on record of the occurrence of
an inflammable gas in a silver mine, and probably indicates that the
rocks near Silver Islet are of much more recent age than has been
generally su|>po8ed.

IV. Mining.

The discovery of Silver Islet in 1HG8, the full descriptions given
of it, and the specimens of ore produced, valued at $1200, were
insufficient to induce the Montreal Mining Company to go into
vigorous mining operations. The leaning of the sliareholders was
plainly in favor of selling rather than working, and the largest speci-
mens found their way to England, where they were exhibital, and
afterwards sent to Swansea to be sold and smelted. Negotiations,
having for their object the sale of part of Wood's Location, in-
cluding Silver Islet, were carried on and continued into the summer
of 18G9, but unsuccessfully. Meanwhile 1 had returned to the lake,
completed the survey of Wood's Location, and employed the men in
excavating as much ore as possible from the surface of the Silver
[slet Vein. This was a matter of much difficulty and even danger.
The summer of 1869 was exceedingly stormy, and it was oidy dur-
ing the calmest weather that any excavation was possible. The
cartridges procured for blasting under water entirely failed to work,
but, nevertheless, 9455 pounds of excellent ore were produced ami
shipped to Montreal. On the 12th of August wc began to sink u
shaft in the centre of the Islet, from which it was intended, on at-
taining sufficient depth, to cross-cut to the vein. That this plan
would have proved jjcrfectly successful is evident from the fact that
it has since been sunk and connected with the east vein, and is now
known as " Macfarlane's Shaft." During the frll of 1868 a shaft-
house was built on the Islet, and a boarding-house, storehouse, and

SILVER ISLET.

stable on the inaiiiland, at a point now known as Silver Islet Land-
ing. In the winter of 1809-70 a party of twelve men and one horse
remained on Wood's Location. They were instrncted to continue
sinking the shaft, to take advantage of any opportunity aflfbrded by
the formation of the ice to excavate more ore from the outcrop of
the vein, and when work at the Islet was impossible to cut timber in
the woods for the cribwork proposed to be constructed the following
season.

The sinking of the shaft had to be discontinued on account of
the influx of water, but the excavation of ore was very successful.
The ice formed around the islet, and kept unbroken for nearly two
months. It facilitated the work very much, keeping the water per-
fectly still, and affordi'ig the men a convenient platform. The blast-
ing under water, with cartridges made on the spot by Mr. M. Big-
gar, was successful, and extended over about thirty feet of the vein.
The loose veinstone was then fished out of the water by means of
long tongs, constructed on the spot, long-handled shovels, etc. ;
then teamed to the mainland, and there sorted. In this way nearly
nine tons of ore were produced and shipped to Montreal in the
spring of 1870. The following is a statement of the entire amount
of ore produced during the operations of the Montreal Mining Com-
pany, with my assays and estimates of the value of the silver it
contained :

Net
When produced. weiKlit,
lbs.

18G8,

18(i»,
i(

II
1870,

1,336
3,429
4,08U

1 ,(t4()
17,»Ui'.t

'28,4(iO

Perec 11 tage

.silver.

5. Id!)

2.700

4.344

5.147
6.503

Ounces
|)er toil of
2'24Ulbs.

i,otto

881)

1,417

Of 2000 lbs.

1,680

1,005

Value per

toil of
2>W lbs.

$2,095.00

1,111.25

1,771.25

Of 2000 His.

2,100.00
2,070.45

Total value.

$1,240.51
1,701.10
3,220.20

1,824.37
18,291.39

$20,292.57

The above ore, after being sold or smelted, realized the following
quantities and values of silver :

When sold

iir

smelted.

Where sold

siiii^lted.

Net

weight,

lbs.

Ouiipes
|ier ton of
2210 lbs.

Value per

lull of

2210 lbs.

Total value

y.-pt. 4tli, 1869,

Swiui^eti,

1,209

1,397

$3031

$962.13

<i ><

Now York,

127

190.50

II II

Swansea,

3,322

982

254/,

1,821.96

Got. 29tli, 1809,

4,0t)6

880

Of 2000 lbs.

228i

of 2000 lbs.

1,970.03

F.-b. 24lli, 1870,

Ncwiirk-,N..I

, 1,913

1 ,008 j

2,075

1.984.73

. II 11

11.28

Feb. 16th, 1872,

17,481

1,429

1,843.41

16,112.32

II II

i3-;i

62.40

28,0734

$23,115.35

SILVER ISLET.

It will he observed that this ore realized ^3177.22 less than esti-
niatod, and that the greatest deficiency, in ]>roportion to the qnan-
tity, (Kicnrs in the parcel of 4080 ])onnds sent to Swansea. No sat-
isfactory explanation of the cause of the difference was ever received,
and it was consequently deemed advisable to ship all the ore after-
wards produced to Newark, N. J. The parcel sold there in Febru-
ary, 1870, resulted very satisfactorily ; but a discrepancy occurred in
the H'i tons afterwards sent. This parcel of ore, on its arrival in
Newark, was crushed and sampled in the usual manner, and, as the
first assays resulted much lower than that of the sample taken at
Silver Islet, and given above, numerous trials were made by various
New York assay ers, always with most extraordinary differences as to
yield. It is extremely probable that these differences were owing
to the imp(>ssibility of effecting a perfectly equal distribution of the
metallic grains throughout the mass of the sample. Mr. Balbach re-
fused to account for more silver than his assay indicated, and efforts
were made to effect a sale of the ore elsewhere than in Newark, but
without effect, and it was finally treated by Mr. Balbach on the basis
of his assay.

The facts connected with the production of ore in the winter of 1869-
70 were j)ublished in the Montreal papers in June, and attracted much
attention in England and the United States. That ten men had been
ableto i)roduce.^l6,000worthofore,and that the actual time employed
by them, in so doing, had not exceeded fourteen days, was again in-
sufficient to induce the Montreal Mining Company to proceed to
work the Silver Islet vein. The experience gained during the sum-
mer of 1869 had convinced me that very strong and extensive works
would be necessary in order to protect tlie Islet and mine from the
severe storms which frequently prevail off Thunder Cape. It had
also become plain that a large force of men, with a steam-tug and
scows, would be necessary for putting the cribbing into place, and
secHiring it (lulckli/, so as to |)revent its being washed away while in
])ro('css of erection by the heavy seas which rising gales suddenly
bring in from the lake. I estimated that at least $50,000 would be
re(|uinMl to establish a mii.(> on the Islet, and recommended it sis
being for the interest of the shareholders that the company itself
should work the mine.

In the event of their being unwilling to raise the necessary work-
ing capital, I recommended efforts on the part of the board to sell
the Silver Islet property. Their decision resulted in favor of the
latter policy, and not oidy was it decided to sell Silver Islet, but the

SILVER ISLET.

idea was adopted of endeavoring to effect a sale of the whole of the
company's property, on the strength of the discoveries already made.
Negotiations were carried on for this purpose during the spring and
summer of 1870, which resulted in the transfer of the whole prop-
erty into the hands of certain capitalists in New York and Detroit
in September.

The first intimation which I had of the sale of the whole property
was at Silver Islet on the night of the 31st of August, when the
propeller ''City of Detroit" arrived, having on board Mr. W. B.
Frue, a working party of about thirty men, two horses, machinery,
stores, provisions, etc., and having in tow a large scow and a raft of
large-sized timber. The propeller discharged her cargo next day,
and operations were begun at once and vigorously to establish a per-
manent mine on Silver Islet. In spite of severe weather extensive
breakwaters were built, part of the vein inclosed by a coffer-dam,
the area^vvithin the latter pumped dry, a considerable amount of
mining done, and about seventy-seven tons of ore shipped before
the close of navigation. The time devoted to raining was about
four weeks, and the last shipment was made about the 25th of No-
vember. About $80,000 were expended in the above operations,
and in making provision for wintering, long before any returns were
obtained from the ore. Indeed, it was not until March, 1871, that
the smelting of the fall shipments at Newark was completed. I
was employed by the new company to superintend the sampling of
this ore, and the following statement shows the value of the silver
in the ore produced by them in 1870, according to my assays:

Net weight,

Fercentagf

Ounce.s per ton

Value per ton

No. of parcel.

lbs.

silver.

of 2000 11)8.

of 2000 lbs.

Total value.

34,8«2

2 553

744.8

$960.90

$16,749.53

1(i,r,92

2.15(1

628.8

811.15

6,729.30

17,523

2.G90

784.5

1,012.00

8,860.63

17,772

2.073

807.2

1,11875

9,941.34

lii,37!)

3 358

979.4

1,263.48

10,347.2(5

lo,<ll4

3 30(;

964.2

1,243 81

9,896.99

l'l,13n

4.348

1,268 1

1,635 84

15,(;54.17

17,139

4.r,87

1,367.0

1,763.43

15,111 71

Metallic gruins

15.130

4,414,6

6,694.83

93.9(1

S|i('c;innMis.

187

9. 000

2,(i52.4

3,421.59

319.92

iMotiillic gniiiLs.

(17.658

19,733.3

25,455.95

38.18

^ A

155,543 lbs., avtsnigiiii;- por ton

$1,205.44 $93,748.99

Messrs. Balbach's assays of the same ore are given in the subjoined
table :

•

SILVER ISLET.

Net weight,

Percentage

Ounces

Value

Total

No. of parcpl.

lbs.

Bilver.

per ton.

ounces.

Total value.

34,862

2.406

7019

$905.46

12,234.9

$15,783.16

lfi,5P2

2.250

656.0

840.24

6,442.1

7,020,40

17,523

2.680

781.6

1,008.26

0,847.9

8,833.86

17,772

2.905

847 6

1,093.28

7,531.0

9,715.00

10,379

3.385

987.3

1,273,63

8,085.4

10,430.39

15,014

3.170

924 6

1,192.60

7,356.2

9,489.61

19,139

4.220

1,230.0

1,586.70

11,770.4

15,183.92

17,139

4.510

1,3160

1,096.35

11,268.8

14,536.87

Metallic grains. 33

15.136

4,414.6

5,694.83

72.8

93.96

Specimen.s.

187

9.060

2,652.4

3,421.59

248.0

319.92

Metallic grai

i.s. 8

07.658
averagin

19,733.3
g per ton

25,455.95

29.6

38.18

165,543,

$1,175.80

70,887.1

$91,446.16

While this ore was being disposed of in the winter of 1870-71
Mr. Frue and his men were fully occupied at Silver Islet, where a
very .stormy season was experienced. During the previous winter
the ice had formed quietly and remained till the spring, when it was
gradually softened by the heat, moved out quietly into the lake, and
did not reappear. Mr. Frue was, therefore, somewhat unprepared
for the great trouble which the different behavior of the ice during
the following .season caused him. The placing of the cribbing was
tedious and hazardous work. The ice did not form solidly for any
considerable time, but kept floating backwards and forwards the en-
tire .season. During much of the time Mr. Frue and his men had
to cut their way from the mainland to the Islet, through fields of
solid ice recently formed, and, shortly afterwards, through floating
floes three feet in thickness and of all sizes up to fifty feet square.
Towards the end of February .severe gales were experienced, which
lent tremendous force to the floating ice, and tore away cribwork to
an extent of two hundred and forty feet in length. The heaviest
timber was insufficient to withstand the ice; large logs had their
extremities chafed to such an extent as to resemble only huge brooms,
and bolts, one and a half to two inches in diameter, were twisted and
broken apparently with the greatest ease. After the removal of the
cribbing the seas were .so heavy as to dash over what remained, and
fill up the coffer-dam in a very short time. The dam itself, however,
sustained very little damage, and, going to work indefatigably to re-
pair damages, Mr. F'rue was able to resume mining in about a month
afterwards. By the 1st of May, 1871, an excavation had been made
on the rich part of the vein inclosed by the coffer-dam, leaving a
length of sixty live, depth of thirty-two, and an average width of
eight feet. By the close of navigation, in November, this working

SILVER ISLET.

had attained a depth of ninety feet, and had produced, from the same
time in 1870, about four hundred and eighty-five tons of ore, of
which the following quantities were treated at Newark in the sum-
mer of 1871:

Net weiglit,

Ounces per

Value per

No. of parcel.

lbs.

ton of 2000 lbs.

Total ounces.

Total value

1, A.

6,553

1,184.1

$1,539.33

3,879.70

155,043.61

1,B.

14,986

1,406.4

1,828.32

10,538.16

13,699.60

2, A.

10,627

1,149.1

1,493 83

9,553.04

12,418.95

2,B.

3,824

1,470.1

1,911.13

2,810.83

3,654.08

17,393

1,131.6

1,471.08

9,840.95

12,793.23

]!>,651

1,166.0

1,515.80

11,456 53

14,893.48

18,630

1,281.8

1,666.34

11,939.96

15,521.95

Metallic grains.

375

4,146.0

5,388.50

772.20

1,003 86

17,959

1,1987

1,668 31

10,763.72

13,992.85

16,730

1,134.5

1,474.86

9,490.09

12,337.12

17,954

1,105.3

1,436.89

9,894.64

12,863.03

18,976

947.8

1,232.14

8,992.25

11,689 92

13,189

907.0

1,179.10

6,981.21

7,775 57

Metallic grains.

657

1,415.8

1,840.54

465.10

604 63

183,458

106,378.37 $138,291.88

There were further treated, at the Wyandotte Smelting and Refin-
ing Works, the following parcels of ore, and in the order as they are
here given :

Quality of

Net weight,

Ounces per

Value per ton

Total

ore.

lbs

ton of 2000 lbs

of 2000 lbs.

ounces.

value.

No. 1.

6,919J

4,180.0

$5,434.00

14,462.00

$18,800 60

No. 2.

16,918

1,395.0

1,813.50

11,799.00

15,338.70

19,340

1,139.0

1,480.70

11,014.00

14,31820

«i

7,500

1,332.0

1,641.60

4,995.00

6,493..-.0

13,750

1,318.0

1,713.40

9,061.00

11,779.30

49,500

961.8

1,250.34

23,804.55

30,945.91

38,750

1,671.4

2,172.82

32,383.37

42,098.38

36,750

1,077.3

1,400.49

19,795.38

25,73:5.99

60,000

1,258.4

1,635.92

37,752.00

49,077.60

•64,343

1,080.0

1,404.00

34.745.00

45,168.50

4,000

990.9

1,288.17

1,981.80

2,576.34

55,000

997.4

1,296.62

27,428.50

35,657.05

No. ;;.

15,000

183.2

238. ir

1,374.00

1,786 20

20,000

108 6

141.18

1,086.00

1,411.80

No. 2.

16,232

997.4

1,296.62

8,094.89

10,523 36

20,263

615.0

799.50

6,227.79

8,096.1:'.

15,607

270.6

351.78

2,111.62

2,745.10

27,017

990.9

1,288.17

13,385.57

17,401.24

;!4,4()9

1,107.0

1,439.10

19,078.59

24,802.17

37,615

925.5

1,203.15

17,406.34

22,628. 2.->

■1

37,500

545.0

708.50

10,218.75

13,284.38

SILVER ISLET.

Quality of

Net weight,

Ounces per

Value per ton

Total

ore.

lbs.

tonof20<)0lb8.

of 2000 lbs.

ounces.

value.

No. 2.

18,r)60

1,029.0

$1,337.70

9,549.12

$12,413.86

24,005

764.0

980.20

9,276.08

12,058 90

17,998

814.3

1,067.59

7,327 88

9,626.24

17,002

680.3

884.39

5,783.23

7,518.20

15,929

813.5

1,057.66

0,479.12

8,422.80

No. 3.

17,r)00

144.8

188 24

1,260.50

1,040.45

;55,4«1

137.3

178.49

2,434.39

3,164.70

No. 1.

10,483

3,017.2

4,702.36

18,959.65

24,647.41

0,495

3,017.2

4,702.30

11,746.85

15,270.90

No. 2.

2,982

1,301.2

1,709.56

2,029.54

2,638.40

14,990

778,468J

084.1

889.33

5,127.32
388,184.73

0,66.5.51

$.504,040.13

It is, of course, to be remembered that the values just given do not
represent the amount reah'zed for the ore. Both at Newark and
Wyandotte the smelters only guaranteed to return 95 i)er cent, of the
silver contents, and charged $100 per ton for smelting. Besides the
above ore there was produced in 1870-71 another parcel of five tons,
which, with many lives, was lost on board the propeller Coburn, on
Lake Huron, in October, 1871.

The total production of Silver Islet from the discovery till the
clo.se of navigation, 1871, was as follows:

• Weight, lbs. Value per ton.

Undor Montreal Mining Company, . . 27,073f $1,646. 8(»

Under new proprietors, 1870, .... 165,543 1,175.80

Under new ])roprietors, 1871, Newark, 183,453 1,507.64

Under new proprietors, 1871, Wyandotte, 778,408^ 1,290 48

Lost on propeller Coburn, 10,000 1,040.00

Total value.
$23,11.5.35
92,153.23
138,291.88
604,040.13
6,200.00

l,164,637i $1,322.44 $703,400.59

Mining was continued with varying success after the close of nav-
igation in 1871. The vein was found to be subject to frequent and
sudden changes, both as regards size and richness. In the fall of

1871 it narrowed down to six inches in width at some points, with
scarcely any first quality ore in sight. During the v/inter it grad-
ually widened and became very productive. In Mr. Fnie's reports
many such alternations are recorded. He says that in the summer of

1872 "the lode became broken up, being thoroughly mixed with
dioritc and wedges of plumbago, and in the fall the mine assumed
anything but a flattering appearance." Mr. Frue writes further on
this subject as follows : " In the following winter it suddenly changed
in character and produced, up to May 1st, 1873, 250 tons of rich

SILVER ISLET.

packing ore, worth about $1500 to the ton. During May and the
early 8innm< r the vein disappeared ahnost entirely, being broken up
into strings and feeders. Later, however, there was a decided im-
provement, which was again overshadowed by a passing cloud, and
although in extending the drift north on the forty a very promising
show of silver had been opened, I had often seen the mine clothed
in richer apparel than it appeared in at the close of navigation'*
(1873).

The severe storms which marked the winter of 1870-71 put in an
appearance again in that of 1873-74. " About the middle of Novem-
ber," Mr. Frue reports, "we were visited by a heavy storm from the
southeast, which did considerable damage, amounting in all to about
$2000. On December 1st we were again overtaken by a southeaster
which came on in terrible fury and seemed, for a time, as though it
would sweep everything before it. It tore away nearly 350 feet in
length of submerged cribs, and caused a loss of 20,000 feet of timber,
7| tons of bolts, and nearly 5000 tons of rock" (used in loading the
cribs), '* the total destruction amounting to a little over $9000, be-
sides the carrying away of the upper portion of the main breakwater.
This work had an altitude of nearly twenty feet above the level of
the lake. Eight feet in height of the top, and nearly sixty feet in
length of it was carried away, the breach being directly in the centre.
The blacksmith's shop, which stood inside of .this breakwater and
about forty feet from its outer face, was completely demolished. In
fact, rocks were whirled around the Islet like hailstones, and a
number of l)uildings were damaged to a considerable extent." The
situation of the works protecting the mine will be seen from the ac-
companying plan of Silver Islet in 1879.

The ore produced from 1874 to 1875, inclusive, was treated at the
Wyandotte Works and contained the following quantities of silver :

Season of 1872, 310,744.02 ouncss.

" 1873, 289,763.77 "

" 1874, 250,021.76 "

" 1875, 14r,,902.50 "

9!)6,432.04 ouiiees.

At $1.20 per ounce the value of this product amounts to
$1,195,718.45.

Part of the product of 1875 was in the shape of concentrates from
the stamp mill, which hud been built at a cost of $90,000 for treating
the veinstone of inferior quality which had previously been laid aside

(

SILVER ISLET.

as too poor for shipment. This mill has 50 stamps and 12 Frue
vanning machines, and produced about 1 ton of concentrates from 50
tons of the poor veinstone. The following statement gives the quan-
tity of this ore stampeil, and the concentrate produced from May,
1875, to November, 1876:

Product In

Total ounrcHof

Trins rook

ccinwntriites.

silvt'r con-

Total rost

Month.

.stninpcd.

Tons. Lbs.

liiint'd in nuhih.

of ilri'ssiiig.

Muy, 1875,

641

11.1454

10,210

$1,2.']7.69

June, "

. 1,065

25. 212

17,5.52

2,049.89

July, "

. l,07!t

28. 104

19,125

2,427.33

August, "

762

20.1100

11,238

2,302.78

Soptomber, "

. 1,505

35. 182

17,804

2,990.85

October, "

. 1,678

37. 843

14,415

2,840.15

December, "

. 1,642

31. 847

11,548

3,172.26

January, 1876,

. 1,556

.30.1824

15,990

3,089.96

February, '<

1,421

28.1312

16,346

2,944.89

March, "

. 1,690

32. 651

15,754

3,238.60

April. "

645

10.1475

4,806

1,788.83

May, "

. 1,67?.

33. 583

9,614

3,036.62

June, '*

. 1,565

33.1288

10,504

'^891. 36

July,

. 1,525

41. 978

11,757

2,768.47

August, "

. 1,600

39.1591

9,-527

2,8J3.04

September, "

. 1,505

33.1232

10,060

2,807.17

October, "

. 1,500

38.1835

9,234

2,596.1^6

November, "

1,494

29. 194

11,389

3,093.93

24,446

'^^mu

226,873

$48,145 08

These figures show that 9.28 ounces per ton were extracted from
the stamp rock and concentrated in a product containing 418 ounces
per ton, at a cost of f 1.97 on the original ore.

The unfavorable changes in the Silver Jslet vein, which occurred
in the fall of 1873, continued up to the close of 1876. The new
levels which had been opened up, the eighth and ninth, proved wholly
unproductive, although no difficulty was experienced in following
and working on the vein. A vast 'imount of exploratory work by
means of the diamond drill also failed to discover any deposits of
rich ore. The consequence was, of course, great financial embarras.s-
ment and an almo.st entire cessation of work during the summer of
1877. In August of that year work was resumed, and up to De-
cember 23,850 ounces of silver obtained by stoping in the upper
part of the mine. It was even proposed to remove the rich ground
lying betwixt the mine and the lake, substituting for it an artificial
arch ; but, fortunately, in the summer of last year a bunch of rich
ore waii struck beneath the fourth level, south of the shaft, which in
a few months yielded 721,632 ounces of silver, a quantity amply

(

SILVER ISLET.

f ^

■^

, \

sufficient to roscuc tho mino from all its embarrassments and provide
a reserve or workinj? capital of l$.'iOO,000.

T have not found it possil)le to ascertain the amount of the pro-
duct, year by year, subsequent to 1875, but according to information
received from C. E. Trowbridge, Esq., Secretary of the Silver Islet
Company, there have been extracted since the commencement ol
operations, in September, 1870, and up to the close o^ navigation in
1 878, 2,174,499 J ounces refined silver, with a value of i|2,921,727.24.
If to this we add the value of the ore obtained immediately after the
discovery by the Montreal I\|ining Company, we have a total yield ot
!i^2, 948,01 9.81. With regard to the production of the present year,
it consists almost exclusively of concentrates, but its value is very
certain to exceed $50,000, and 1 thiidv that at the end of the season
the total yield of Silver Islet mine since its discovery will be found
to have reached three million dollars.

The question of the future of Silver Islet mine is one of very
great interest to many besides those pecuniarily concerned. When
visiting tiie mine, in July, 1877, the vein appeared perfectly well
defined on the ninth level, but nothing in the shape of ore was to be
seen. The vein was said to possess the same character in the inclined
shaft sunk 100 feet dee])er than the level, and to a point about 640 feet
from the surface. This shaft was filled with water at the time of
my visit. Tho vein below this {)oint has been tested by a drill-hole
29G feet deep, in which traces of silver ore were detected. Even if
we suppose that this trace is the clue to another bonanza, the fact
still remains that from the 6tli level to the deepest working, a distance
of 800 ieet, the vein has been found to be unworthy of excavation,
and this too in spite of the presence of diorite on both walls, a con-
dition which, when the mine was first opened, was supposed to insure
a rc^munerative vein. In view of this fact and of the circumstance
that the recent rich discovery was made at a point where only the
foot-wall could have been diorite, it becomes a question whether the
theory of the beneficial infiuence of diorite walls is correct. If it is,
then a large amount of vein area below the 5th level and to the
north of the shaft remains to be prospected. That this ground has,
so far, been found barren may be owing to the peculiar nature of the
vein, in which large values of ore seem to be stowed away in com-
|)aratively small space. If the theory here referred to is unfounded,
and the vein in the adjoining flags and shales be really as promising
as that crossing the diorite, then the amount of ground available for
exploration, north and south of the mine, is immense. As a matter

.Sir.VER isr.ET.

of fnot, tlic liori/ontal strata, clscwlicrc in the <listrirt, have lu'cii
fouml t(» (!()iitain silvcr-hcariiii^ veins, hut, so Car, have failed toallord
tbiiixhitioii for a reinnnorative mine. In either ease the future of
Silver Ishst mine depends mostly on the earefuhiess of the manager
an«l his assistants in detectinfjf minute traces of ore, and their skill and
|)ers(!Vorane(! in followinj^ them. It would soem alt(>gether unwise
to depend upon any preconceived notion as to the manner in which
the valuahle minerals occur, or oujjlit to occur, in the mine, for it
must hv confessed that hithert<> the che.mical jj;eologist has rendered
hut very slifiht assistance to tin; pra(!tical miner in iiis search for the
renuinerativ*! parts of a vein. The hest fjjuarantee for the future
is in the past history of the mine, which proves that rich (le|)osits
may he stumhied upon quite unexj)ectedly in the j>;round already
opened up.

I ohtaine<l from Edward Learned, Esq., President of the Silyer
Islet (/ompany, whose faith and |)crsevGran(!e has carried the (jompany
throuji^h many of its difficulties, the original of the panoramic sketch,
|)ublished herewith, of Silver Islet and the adjac^cnt islands and
mainland. It is exceedingly truthful, an;l will serve to give some
idea of the situation of this remarkable mine. The artist is Mr.
George Snell, of Boston.

I have thus endeavored to record the principal facts which hav«
com(! to my knowledge regarding this extraonlinary silver vein. Its
story ought to teach Canadians, among other things, to have more
(!onfidenee in the mineral resources of their country. That over
three millions have been extracted from a bare rock, in Lake Su-
perior, with an area not exceeding a thousand square feet, ought to
increase our faith in the vast unexj)lored regions which stretch away
to the north and northwest of us. IJut let us not, in the event of
new discoveries, pamper our worthless mines, nor, on the other hand,
starve those of good promise. Neither let us, when we find an()th(>r
productive mine, tear out recklessly all the ore in sight. The j)ro-
duct of a mine, like that of a farm, cannot be forced beyond certain
|)roper limits without bad consequences. Let reserves accumulate
in our mines as the "rests" formerly did in our financial institutions,
and mining will become as profitable as banking, if not more so.
The opposite system, " picking the eyes out of the mine," Baab
baa, as the Germans call it, has caused the ruin of such mines as
the Ophir in Nova Scotia, and the Acton in Quebec. It is " more
by good luck than good guiding" that a similar fate has not yet
overtaken Silver Islet in Ontario.

l[i

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SII.VKU ISLET.
Isle lluyttle In the distaiiua

HMANGOINAH I

BURNT ISLAND.

SILVER ISLET AND VlCINITjY, FROI

,•

•.-^- -*:-*--

-'^^

''^^^imfwm- -^'f j'^''i!'*w*w^»*Piit!'f*''''«^ ■Tn-.fli.r.**

■^^■Si^.-.i

SHAN(iOINAH ISFAND.

SLAND.

♦

MAINLAND (SILVER ISLET LANDING).

With Pie Isltind in tlie distunce.

AND VICINIW, FROM THE EAST.