Scenes and Adventures in the Semi-Alpine Region of the Ozark Mountains of Missouri and Arkansas Part 12

The most valuable mineral products of the mines, in addition to lead, are iron and salt; the latter of which is made, in limited quant.i.ties, at a saline spring at Madansburgh, in the county of St. Genevieve. Other indications of it exist at one or two localities in the towns.h.i.+p of Bellevieu, and on the Maramec river, where efforts were formerly made to manufacture salt.

Iron-ores are found at numerous points; but no body of the ores of this metal is known, comparable, in extent or value, to the locality of Bellevieu, called the Iron Mountain. The ore exists, at this place, in a very ma.s.sive form. It is in the state of a micaceous oxide. It has been tried in a slag furnace, and smelted easily, without a flux. The iron obtained was of a very malleable quality, and spread freely under the hammer. This locality is embraced by the waters of Cedar creek, which, at the distance of seven miles, are stated to afford a water-power adequate for the reduction and working of the ore. About five miles distant, at Stout's settlement, occurs another body of this ore.

Zinc is found, in the form of a sulphuret, in small quant.i.ties, at several of the lead-mines in Was.h.i.+ngton county. A single ma.s.s of the sulphuret of antimony has been discovered in the granitical district, which affords also a locality of coa.r.s.e graphite, and some other minerals, which will be noticed in the sequel.

A sulphur spring exists a few miles west of the Mississippi, in Jefferson county. The water issues, in a copious stream, from an aperture, situated near a cliff of the compact limestone. It is of a bright, transparent quality, but indicates, by its taste, its sulphureous impregnation, and deposits sulphur, in a whitish pulpy form, on the pebble-stones and fallen vegetation of the brook which issues from the spring.

Topographically considered, the mine country is a hilly and uneven tract, having a considerable elevation above the waters of the Mississippi. It is well watered, with numerous springs, brooks, and streams, and, from the prevalence of a firm diluvial soil, affords facilities for roads. The climate is favorable to health. The manner in which the smelting of the ores is performed, being in the open air, is probably less injurious to those engaged in it, than if the furnaces were enclosed with buildings.

Some losses are sustained in the death of cattle, which die with a disease called the mine sickness. Cows and horses, which are frequently seen licking around old furnaces, often die without any apparent cause.

Cats and dogs are taken with violent fits, which never fail, in a short time, to terminate their lives. This is usually attributed, by the inhabitants, to the effects of sulphur, driven off from the ores in smelting. It is more probable that it arises from the sulphurous acid in its combination with barytes, which may operate as a poison to animals.

The sickness is wholly confined to quadrupeds.[16]

The soil thrown out of the pits, at the abandoned mines, is found to produce some plants, and even trees, which are not peculiar to the surface. Such are the cotton-wood and the beech-grape, species which are usually confined to the arenaceous alluvions of valleys. And we think their growth here is not promoted by the mineral clay, which is manifestly of a fertilizing property, when cast on the surface; but to the disintegration of the sand-lime, producing a soil favorable to such productions. The sensitive brier, observed in the mine district, is evidently not of this cla.s.s, as it is found remote from any mine excavations.

SECTION III.

LOCAL POSITION OF THE SEVERAL MINES.

Since the first discovery of lead in this Territory, the number of mines has been much increased, and hardly a season pa.s.ses without some new discovery. Every discovery of importance soon becomes the centre of mining attraction. As the ore is found in the diluvial soil, it is generally exhausted on reaching the solid rock; and after penetrating a considerable area of the surface with any, or but partial success, the locality is abandoned, and a new one sought. As the mines are worked without capital, and the ore is dispersed over a wide area, the number of localities is almost indefinite. Upwards of forty princ.i.p.al sub-districts are known, most of which are appropriately denominated _diggings_. The earliest discovery, at Mine a Burton, has been one of the most valuable, and still continues to afford the ore. Mine a La Motte has also proved an extensive deposit, and is still unexhausted.

New Diggings, s.h.i.+bboleth, and Richwoods, are among the discoveries of later date, which have yielded very large quant.i.ties of ore. But the mode of mining in the diluvial soil must exhaust it of its mineral contents, and direct miners, in after years, to the true position of the ore, in the calcareous rock. So long as the search continues in the soil, the business will partake of the uncertainty which now attends it, and which renders it rather an object of temporary enterprise, than a fixed employment.

In the search for ore in the soil, scarcely any uniform principles can be certainly relied on. Generally, rocky and barren localities are avoided, and large and deep beds of the red metalliferous clay sought for. The occurrence of crystallized quartz, or spars, on the surface, is regarded only as a general indication, but cannot be depended on to ensure local success. These ma.s.ses are found to be distributed on and through the top soil, as other debris, being sometimes contiguous to, and sometimes remote from, ore. But they are never, so far as I have observed, found with the ore.

The method of searching for and raising the ore, is simple. Having fixed on a spot for digging, the operator measures off about eight feet square. A pick-axe and shovel are used for removing the earth. A practised hand will pitch the earth from a depth of eight or ten feet. A windla.s.s and bucket are then placed over the pit, and the excavation thus continued. Small detached ma.s.ses of ore, or spars, are often found in the soil, in approaching a larger body. The ore is the sulphuret, or galena. It has a broad, glittering grain, and is readily divisible into cubical fragments. It occurs in beds, or detached ma.s.ses, which are deposited horizontally in the soil. They are often accompanied by the sulphate of barytes, or by calcareous spar; sometimes by blende, or iron pyrites. The ore is often connected with the barytic spar, indicating the latter to be a true matrix. The direction of these beds of ore appears to be irregular. Veins of ore are confined to the rock.

The variety of ore called _gravel ore_, differs from the preceding chiefly by its marks of attrition, and connection with diluvial pebble-stones. No spars have been noticed in these gravel-beds, although it is probable that a careful search might detect them.

The calcareous spar is most abundant in connection with rock diggings.

It is translucent, or transparent, and often exhibits the property of double refraction. The miners, who employ their own conventional terms, call this substance _gla.s.s tiff_, to distinguish it from the sulphate of barytes, which is denominated _tiff_. Much of the radiated quartz of this district bears the marks of diluvial action. It is not uncommon to find ma.s.ses of it, in which the angles of the crystals are quite defaced. Veins of ore in the rock correspond generally, in their course, I think, with the cardinal points, in the instances of their being pursued horizontally. But they dip at various angles with the plain, or sink perpendicularly into the rock.

The horizontal position of the ore-beds in the red clay soil, may be regarded as an evidence of its being a diluvial deposit.

The metalliferous, red, marly clay, is, in fine, the most interesting geological problem connected with the mines, and is calculated to show us how little we know of the true eras of the diluvial deposits. After every examination which we have been able to make, we are decidedly of the opinion that this formation belongs to the diluvial, and not to the alluvial era. It seems, indeed, to a.s.sert a claim to be considered, among the western strata, as immediately succeeding the secondary. It lies directly next to, and upon, the limestone rock. We have witnessed the progress of an excavation on the public square of Potosi, in which the soil was removed down to the rock, and a clean area of its surface was exposed. There was no other stratum below it, and between the clay and rock. And such we believe to be its general position. The radiated quartz and pebble drift is above it, and, consequently, const.i.tutes a subsequent deposit. And hence it is that the numerous fragmentary ma.s.ses of the former, called _mineral blossom_, are no sure indications of the subterraneous presence of ore. The gravel-ore and mixed diluvial gravel is likewise a newer deposit, coinciding with the era of the primitive and secondary boulders. No large primitive boulders, however, exist in the mine district, if we except the angular fragments of granite, south of St. Michael, which are, indeed, just without the lead-yielding area.

Pebbles of common quartz, granite, and greenstone, are found in the surface soil, and are also to be observed, in acc.u.mulated ma.s.ses, in the beds of brooks. Occasionally an orbicular ma.s.s of these rocks, of the size of a melon, is observed. It is evident, from these appearances, that no formations of the primitive exist, towards the sources of the Mississippi, for a great distance, as it is from this direction that diluvial action appears to have been propagated. This clay soil is free from boulders, and is of a h.o.m.ogeneous texture. It partakes, in its qualities, so largely of marl, as to operate as a manure, on being thrown out of the pits, and, after a few years, is covered with a very rank growth of trees, vines, &c. This is a characteristic trait of the locality of abandoned diggings.

The following is a catalogue of the mines. It comprises those of most note, which are now worked, or have been at some former period.

1. Mine a Burton. 24. Tapley's Diggings.

2. Mine a Robino. 25. Lambert's Diggings.

3. Mine a Martin. 26. Old Mines.

4. New Diggings. 27. Mine s.h.i.+bboleth.

5. Citadel Diggings. 28. Elliot's Mines.

6. Perry's Diggings. 29. Belle Fontaine.

7. Hawkins's Mine. 30. Cannon's Mines.

8. Rosebury's Mine. 31. Little Diggings.

9. Austin's Shaft. 32. Becquet's Diggings.

10. Jones's Shaft. 33. Mine Liberty.

11. Rocky Diggings, (Prairie de Roche). 34. Renault's Mines.

12. Gravelly Diggings. 35. Miller's Mine.

13. Brushy-run Diggings. 36. Mine Silvers.

14. Stricklin's Diggings. 37. Fourche a Courtois.

15. Bibb's Diggings. 38. Pratt's Mine, Big river.

16. Tebault's Diggings, (Pinery). 39. Lebaum's Mine, Richwoods.

17. Mine Astraddle. 40. Mine a Joe, Flat river.

18. Ma.s.son's Diggings, or Partney's. 41. Bryan's Mines, Hazel run.

19. J. Scott's Diggings. 42. Dogget's Mine, Hazel run.

20. T. Scott's Diggings. 43. Mine La Motte, St. Michael.

21. Micheaux's Diggings. 44. Gray's Mine, Big river.

22. Henry's Diggings. 45. M'Kain's Mine, Dry creek.

23. Moreau's Diggings.

The most noted mines are Mine a Burton, New Diggings, s.h.i.+bboleth, Richwoods, Old Mines, and the numerous mines on the waters of the Mineral Fork of Grand river. Mine a La Motte, Mine a Joe, and Bryan's Mines, are east and south of the princ.i.p.al group of mines in Was.h.i.+ngton county, and at a considerable distance from them. A few general remarks may be applied to all these mines.

The mines possess one general character, although there are some peculiarities which I shall hereafter mention. The ore is found in detached pieces and solid ma.s.ses, in beds, in red clay, accompanied by sulphate of barytes, calcareous spar, blende, iron pyrites, and quartz.

The ore is of that kind called, by mineralogists, lead-glance, or galena, and is the sulphuret of lead, of chemistry. As it is dug up or quarried from the adhering spar, it presents a very rich appearance. It has a broad, glittering grain, of a lead-gray colour, which pa.s.ses into a bluish shade. The ore is easily broken by the blow of a hammer, and may be pounded to a fine powder, still preserving its glittering appearance. In breaking it, it always separates in cubes. Sometimes detached lumps of four or five pounds weight, of a cubical form, are found imbedded in the clay. Its primitive figure of crystallization is particularly observable after the ore has been desulphurated by heat, which, at the same time, increases its splendor, and renders the lines of intersection between the facets more plainly discoverable.

The clay, or red earth, in which the ore is found, appears to partake largely of marl; and a difference of quality is to be observed at the different mines. It all, however, operates more or less as a stimulant to vegetation, on being thrown out of the pits. Mixed with the clay are innumerable pieces of radiated quartz, very beautiful in appearance.

This forms the first stratum, and is about fourteen inches in depth; then succeeds a stratum of red clay, four or five feet thick, and sparingly mixed with substances of the same kind; after this, a layer of gravel and rounded pebbles, of a silicious character, ensues; these are about a foot in depth, and lead-ore, in small detached lumps, is then found. This is of the description called gravel-ore, and no spars are found accompanying it. The greatest proportion of lead-ore is, however, found imbedded in marly clay, accompanied by the sulphate of barytes, and resting on limestone rock. The rock is struck at a depth of from fifteen to twenty feet, and is a metalliferous limestone, of a semi-crystalline structure, lying in horizontal beds. It is traversed by veins of lead-ore. Sometimes these expand in the shape of caves, where ma.s.ses of galena occur.

The most valuable substance accompanying the lead-ore, is an ore of zinc, which is found at several of the mines. Another substance, found with the ore in considerable quant.i.ties, is the sulphate of barytes.

This is sometimes in immediate connection with the ore, but more frequently in contiguous ma.s.ses, in the clay.

The sulphate of barytes, called _tiff_ by the lead-diggers here, is the same substance called _c.a.w.k_ by English miners. It is very white, opaque, and very heavy, and may be considered as the proper matrix of the lead-ore.

There are also found considerable quant.i.ties of calcareous spar, particularly in the caves and veins in rock. This substance is often observed in large orbicular or irregular ma.s.ses, which have the appearance of external attrition. On breaking them, they fall into rhombs, which are very transparent and glittering; in color, they are either white, or honey-yellow.

Pyrites are common at the mines, sometimes crystallized in regular cubes of a beautiful bra.s.s-yellow color, and, at others, found in tabular ma.s.ses, or mixed with blende, sulphate of barytes, or calcareous spar.

Quartz is found throughout the whole mine district, both on the surface of the ground, and at all depths below. It is generally in the form of tabular pieces, whose surfaces are thickly studded over with small pyramids of transparent rock-crystal, and present an appearance of the utmost beauty and splendor, looking like so many diamonds set over the surface of white stone. These crystals are frequently grouped in the form of a hemisphere, circular, or oviform, solitary or in cl.u.s.ters, forming the different varieties of mamillary and radiated quartz, and, when met with in their pristine beauty, present a very rich and brilliant appearance. It has acquired the popular name of _blossom of lead_, or mineral blossom, a term perfectly significant of its supposed affinity.

The exterior stratum of red clay, with its ores and minerals, will be best understood by comparing it to a garment thrown over the rock-formations of the country. The search for ore has been generally confined to these clay diggings, which are pursued, very much, with the apparatus of common well-digging. If, on reaching the rock, no vein of ore is discovered, the work is generally dropped.

On viewing the district on a large scale, this external clay stratum appears to have originally derived its mineral contents from veins in the calcareous, lead-yielding rock. This metalliferous rock has evidently, in former ages, been scooped out by rivers and streams, forming valleys and vast diluvial plateaux, where the abraded materials were deposited. The original subterranean veins were concealed by these geological changes.

Some of the mines exhibit traits that may be mentioned. Mine La Motte is one of the oldest mines in the Territory, having been discovered in 1720, by the person whose name it bears. The mines are very extensive, and a large quant.i.ty of ore is annually raised. They are situated within two miles of St. Michael, Madison county, and on the head-waters of the river St. Francois. No spars are found accompanying the ore; iron pyrite is occasionally met with, and plumbago is found in the vicinity. The ore, which is less brilliant, and differs in other characters from any other in the mine tract, is at the same time more refractory; in some instances, the greatest difficulties have been experienced in the smelting. Hence, an idea has originated that it is combined with other metals; but no experiments, I believe, have been made to ascertain this point.

On a visit to these mines, I observed the inside of the ash-furnace beautifully tinged with a blue color of considerable intensity. This furnace is built of a white sandstone, which becomes vitrified on the surface, forming gla.s.s. We are acquainted with no substance which will communicate a blue color to gla.s.s in fusion but cobalt; hence, it is not unreasonable to infer that this metal is volatilized during the smelting, and is thus brought into contact with the liquefied surface of the stone, imparting to it the color noticed. That the ores of La Motte contain an unusual portion of sulphur, is very probable. I draw this inference both from its refractory nature and dull appearance. Sulphur always renders an ore refractory; for, when it is expelled by torrefaction, the ore melts easily. Its dull aspect is not less conclusive; for, the more an ore is roasted, and the more sulphur there is driven off, the brighter it grows. This is evident to every smelter, who cannot fail to observe the surprising brilliancy the ore a.s.sumes after it has gone through the first operation in the log furnace. That the difficulties daily experienced in smelting the La Motte ores are, therefore, attributable to the extraordinary quant.i.ty of sulphur they contain, is extremely probable; for, even if they were united with other metals, with silver or with cobalt, these would not increase their infusibility, except by the extra quantum of sulphur they brought with them. At least, we have no facts to prove that a simple alloy does not melt as easily as a pure metal, while there are many to show that alloys are of the most easy fusibility.

The quant.i.ty of ore raised at New Diggings has been very great, a regular vein having been found; but they were abandoned several years ago on account of the water, which rushed in with such rapidity, that to remove it every morning with a common windla.s.s and bucket was found a work of such labor as to render the business unprofitable. The mines were left with the most flattering veins of ore in view. The general character of these mines is such as to justify the erection of a steam-engine, and other works for prosecuting the business on an extensive scale; and their revival at some future period may be confidently looked for.

Mine Renault is situated about six miles north-north-west of Mine a Burton, in a very rocky part of the country, which affords some of the most picturesque views of mountain scenery. The region is strongly marked by mineral appearances, rendering it probable that other substances of value, besides lead, may exist in that vicinity. Ores of zinc are abundant at this mine, and a body of micaceous oxide of iron is found in the neighborhood.

Bryan's Mines are seated on Hazel run, and are among the most recent discoveries of consequence. Near a million pounds of lead were made here during the first year of the discovery. The mine is characterized by yielding no heavy spar; sometimes a little calcareous spar is found, and then adhering to the ores; a circ.u.mstance which I have nowhere else observed. Much of the ore of these mines is found in tabular pieces, which are sonorous in a considerable degree; the ore is brilliant, and smelts readily, yielding the same as at Mine a Burton.

Gray's Mine, situated on Big river, in the northern extremity of the mine tract, is remarkable for a body of white clay, which was discovered in searching for ore. In sinking several pits at this mine, a stratum of clay of an unusual appearance was struck at the depth of from eight to ten feet, and no ore was procured at those places; the diggings were abandoned in consequence of the clay, which covers a considerable area of ground on the banks of Big river. This mineral substance bears a striking resemblance to specimens of a pyrous crucible clay.

Elliott's Mines lie upon the Mineral Fork, and are characterized by the abundance of pyrites, and the beauty of the calcareous spar found there.

Considerable quant.i.ties of blende were also met with, and strong indications of the existence of copper are furnished. During the remarkable earthquakes of 1812, a fine spring of water at the mouth of the mines suddenly became warm and foul, and in a few days dried up entirely, and no water has run there since. Illuminations in the atmosphere (arising doubtless from phosphorus) are frequently observed in this vicinity on the approach of night.