Those who dig the ore do not always smelt it. The merchants are

generally the smelters, and either employ their own slaves in raising

the ore, or pay a stipulated price per cwt. to those who choose to dig.

For every hundred pounds of ore, properly cleaned, the digger receives

two dollars. He works on his own account, and runs the risk of finding

ore. It is estimated that an ordinary hand will raise a hundredweight

per day, on an average of a year together. This, however, depends much

upon luck; sometimes a vast body is fallen upon, with a few hours'

labor; at others, many weeks are spent without finding any. He who

perseveres will, however, generally succeed; and the labor bestowed upon

the most unpromising mine, is never wholly lost. The above average has

been made by those long conversant with the business, and upon a full

consideration of all risks.

Custom has established a number of laws among the miners, with regard to

digging, which have a tendency to prevent disputes. Whenever a discovery

is made, the person making it is entitled to claim the ground for

twenty-five feet in every direction from his pit, giving him fifty feet

square. Other diggers are each entitled to twelve feet square, which is

just enough to sink a pit, and afford room for throwing out the earth.

Each one measures and stakes off his ground, and, though he should not

begin to work for several days afterwards, no person will intrude upon

it. On this spot he digs down, but is not allowed to run drifts

horizontally, so as to break into or undermine the pits of others. If

appearances are unpromising, or he strikes the rock, and chooses to

abandon his pit, he can go on any unoccupied ground, and, observing the

same precautions, begin anew. In such a case, the abandoned pit may be

occupied by any other person; and sometimes large bodies of ore are

found by the second occupant, by a little work, which would have richly

rewarded the labors of the first, had he persevered.

In digging down from fifteen to twenty feet, the rock is generally

struck; and as the signs of ore frequently give out on coming to the

rock, many of the pits are carried no further. This rock is invariably

limestone, though there are many varieties of it, the texture varying

from very hard and compact, to soft and friable. The former is

considered by the diggers as a flinty stone; the latter is called

rotten limestone; and, from its crumbling between the fingers, and

falling into grains, there is a variety of it called sandstone. It is

all, however, a calcareous carbonate, will burn into quicklime, and, as

I find on experiment, is completely soluble in nitric acid. As no

remains or impressions of shells, animalculae, or other traces of animal

life, are to be found in it, I conclude it to be what geologists term

metalliferous limestone; a conclusion which is strengthened by its

semi-crystalline fracture. It exhibits regular stratification, being

always found in horizontal masses. How far this formation extends, it

would be difficult to determine; but, so far as my observation goes, it

is invariably the basis on which the mineral soil at Mine a Burton, and

the numerous mines in its vicinity, reposes. It is overlaid by secondary

limestone in various places on the banks of the Mississippi, between

Cape Girardeau and St. Louis. It is also seen passing into a variety of

secondary marble, in several localities. I have seen no specimens of

this mineral, however, which can be considered as a valuable material in

sculpture.

I have already mentioned the per centage of lead obtained by smelting in

the large way. I shall here add the result of an assay made on the ore.

One hundred parts of ore yielded as follows:

Metallic lead 82

Sulphur driven off by torrefaction 11

Earthy matter, and further portion of sulphur,

either combined with the scoria, or driven off

by heat 7 by estimation.

---

100

The ore experimented upon was the common ore of Mine a Burton, (galena.)

I took a lump of the purest ore, completely freed from all sparry and

other extraneous matter, beat it into a very gross powder, and roasted

for an hour and a half in a moderate heat, with frequent stirring. On

weighing the mass, it had lost 11 of sulphur. I now beat this to a very

fine powder, and treated it with a strong flux of nitre and dry

carbonate of soda, adding some iron filings to absorb the last portions

of sulphur. The whole was enclosed in a good Hessian crucible,

previously smeared with charcoal, with a luted cover, and exposed for

twenty minutes to the high heat of a small chemical blast-furnace.

The richest species of galena, of which we have any account, is that of

Durham, England. An analysis of a specimen of this ore by Dr. Thompson,

gave the following result:

Lead 85 13

Sulphur 13 02

Oxide of iron 0 5

-----

98 65

Many of the English, and nearly all the German ores, are, however, much

poorer. Of five several experiments made by Vauquelin on ores from

different mines in Germany, sixty-five per cent. of lead was the

richest, and all were united with uncommon portions of carbonated lime

and silex.

The button of metallic lead found at the bottom of the crucible in

chemical assays, contains also the silver, and other metals, if any

should be present in the ore. So also, in smelting in the large way, the

metallic lead is always united with the other metals. When ores of lead

contain any considerable portion of silver, they assume a fine steel

grain; and the crystals, which are smaller than in common galena,

oftener affect the octahedral, than the cubical figure. They are also

harder to melt; and the lead obtained is not of so soft and malleable a

nature as that procured from the broad-grained, easy-melting ore.

The proportion of silver in lead varies greatly. It is sometimes found

to yield as high as twelve per cent., and is then called argentiferous

lead-glance; but, in the poorest ores, it does not yield more than one

ounce out of three hundred. To separate the silver from the lead, a

process is pursued called the refining of lead, or cupellation. This is

effected by exposing the lead to a moderate heat in a cupel, and

removing the oxide as soon as it forms on the surface, until the whole

is calcined, leaving the silver in the bottom of the cupel. The lead in

this process is converted into litharge, the well-known substance of

commerce; and the silver is afterwards refined by a second process, in

which the last portions of lead are entirely got rid of. This process is

known at the German refineries under the name of _silber brennen_,

burning silver.

The rationale of cupellation is simply this. Lead on exposure to heat,

with access of air, is covered by a thin pellicle or scum, called an

oxide; and by removing this, another is formed; and so, by continuing to

take off the oxide, the whole quantity of lead is converted into an

oxide. It is called an oxide, because it is a combination of lead with

oxygen (one of the principles of air and of water.) By this combination,

an increase of weight takes place, so that a hundred pounds of bar-lead,

converted into the state of an oxide, will weigh as much over a hundred,

as the weight of the oxygen which it has attracted from the atmosphere.

Silver, however, on being exposed to heat in the same situation, cannot

be converted into an oxide; it has no attractive power for oxygen.

Hence, when this metal is contained in a bar of lead, the lead only is

oxygenated on exposure in a cupel; whilst the silver remains unaltered,

but constantly concentrating and sinking, till the lead is all calcined.

This is known, to a practised eye, by the increased splendor assumed by

the metal.

I do not think the ore of Mine a Burton contains a sufficient quantity

of silver to render the separation an object. This is to be inferred

from its mineralogical character, from the mathematical figure and size

of the crystal, its color, splendor, &c. The territory is not, however,

it is believed, deficient in ores which are valuable for the silver they

contain. The head of White river, the Arkansas, the Maramec, and

Strawberry rivers, all afford ores of lead, the appearance of which

leads us to conclude they may yield silver in considerable quantity.

SECTION V.

ANNUAL PRODUCT, AND NUMBER OF HANDS EMPLOYED.

On this head, it is very difficult to procure proper information. The

desultory manner in which the mines have been wrought, and the imperfect

method in which accounts have been kept, when kept at all, with other

circumstances, which are in some measure incidental to the operations of

mining in a new country, oppose so many obstacles in the way of

obtaining the desired information, that I find it impossible to present

a correct statement, from authentic sources, of the annual product of

the mines for any series of years. When Louisiana was first occupied by

the United States, Mine a Burton and Mine La Motte were the principal

mines wrought; but the few Americans who had emigrated into the

territory, under the Spanish government, were fully aware of the

advantages to be derived from the smelting of lead, and, united to the

emigrant population which shortly succeeded, made many new discoveries,

and the business was prosecuted with increased vigor, and to a much

greater extent. The interior parts of the country, and such as had

before been deemed dangerous on account of the Indians, were now eagerly

explored; and the fortunate discovery of several immense bodies of ore

near the surface of the ground, whereby the discoverers enriched

themselves by a few days' labor, had a tendency greatly to increase the

fame of the mines, and the number of miners. But, as generally happens

in new countries, among the number of emigrants were several desperate

adventurers, and men of the most abandoned character. Hence, the mines

soon became the scene of every disorder, depravity, and crime, and a

common rendezvous for renegadoes of all parts. It is by such persons

that many of the mines were discovered, and several of them wrought; and

it is, therefore, no subject of surprise, that, on inquiry, no accounts

of the quantity of lead made, and the number of hands employed, are to

be found.

To secure the public interest, and remedy, in some degree, the

irregularities practised at the mines, a law was passed in Congress, a

few years after the cession of Louisiana, reserving all lead-mines,

salt-springs, &c., which should be discovered on the public lands,

subsequent to that period; and the Governor of the Territory was, at the

same time, authorized to grant leases to discoverers for three years.

The great defect of that law appears always to have been, that a

specific agent was not at the same time authorized to be appointed for

the general superintendence, inspection, and management of mines--an

office which, from its nature, can never be properly incorporated with

that of the territorial executive, and which, with every inclination, it

is presumed his other avocations would prevent him from discharging

either with usefulness to the public, or satisfaction to himself. But,

whatever be the defect of the law, certainly the advantages which the

government proposed to derive from it have not accrued. No revenue, it

is understood, has yet been realized under it, and we are now as much at

a loss how to arrive at a true statement of the mineral product of

Missouri, as if the mines had never been a subject of governmental

legislation.

When a discovery of lead has been made, the miners from the neighboring

country have flocked to it, and commenced digging as usual, no one

troubling himself about a lease; and thus the provisions of the act have

been in a great measure disregarded. Men of respectability, and of

sufficient capital to carry on mining in a systematic manner, have, it

is believed, been frequently deterred from making applications for

leases, from the short period for which only they can be granted. It

would not warrant the expense of sinking shafts, erecting permanent

furnaces, galleries, and other works necessary for prosecuting the

business to advantage; for, no sooner would such works be erected, and

the mines begin to be effectually wrought, than the expiration of the

lease would throw them into the hands of some more successful applicant.

But, although we have no data to form an authenticated schedule of the

annual product of the mines for any required number of years, there is

something to be obtained by collecting and comparing facts, detached and

scanty as they are. Something also is to be acquired by consulting the

books which have been kept of late years in the warehouses on the

Mississippi, where the lead is sent for exportation, and some

information is also to be gleaned from various other sources. It is from

information thus obtained that I proceed to an enumeration of the

products of the different mines, and the number of persons to whom they

furnish employment and support, satisfied, at the same time, that

although the information may not be all that could be desired, yet it is

all which, without the most extraordinary exertions, could be obtained.

The amount of crude ore delivered at the furnaces of Mine Shibboleth,

during one of its most productive years (1811), was something rising of

5,000,000 of pounds. The ore of this mine is estimated to yield, in the

large way, from 60 to 70 per cent., reckoned at 62-1/2, which is

probably a fair average. The product of the mine in 1811 was 3,125,000

pounds. Shibboleth is, however, one of the richest mines in the

Territory, and this is the product of one of those years in which it was

most profitably worked. It was then a new discovery, vast bodies of ore

were found near the surface, and the number of miners drawn together by

the fame of its riches was uncommonly great. It has since declined,

although the ore is still constantly found; and I am informed by Colonel

Smith, the present proprietor, that the product this year (1819) will be

about one million of pounds.

The number of persons employed in digging lead at Mine a Burton has been

constantly lessening for the last four or five years; and this

celebrated mine, which has been worked without interruption for more

than forty years, and is stated to have yielded as high as three

millions per annum, is manifestly in a state of decline. During the last

summer (1818), the greater part of which I resided at that place, there

were not more than thirty miners employed; and the total product of the

different pits, shafts, and diggings, composing this mine, did not

exceed half a million of pounds. Of this quantity, Messrs. Samuel Perry

& Co. were the manufacturers of about 300,000 lbs. They contemplate

realizing an increased quantity during the present year. John Rice

Jones, Esq., is also engaged in penetrating the rock in search of ore,

with the most flattering prospects, and is determined, as he informs me,

to sink through the upper stratum of limestone, and ascertain the

character of the succeeding formations. It is highly probable, reasoning

from geognostic relations, that the lower formations will prove

metalliferous, yielding both lead and copper; a discovery which would

form a new era in the history of those mines. The present mode of

promiscuous digging on the surface would then be abandoned, and people

made to see and to realize the advantages of the only system of mining

which can be permanently, uniformly, and successfully pursued, viz., by

penetrating into the bowels of the earth.

Several other persons of intelligence and capital are also engaged in

mining at this place, and it is probable that the total amount of lead

manufactured at this mine during the year 1819 will fall little short of

one million of pounds.

It is not to be inferred, however, that because the number of miners at

Potosi has decreased, the mines are exhausted. On the contrary, there is

reason to conclude, as already mentioned, that the principal bodies of

ore have not yet been discovered, and that it is destined to become the

seat of the most extensive and important mining operations. The ore

heretofore raised at these mines has been chiefly found in the stratum

of earth which forms the surface of that country, and is bottomed on the

limestone. This stratum consists of a stiff red clay, passing in some

places into marl, and in others partaking more of the silicious

character forming a loam, and imbedding the ores of lead, accompanied by

the various mineralogical species before mentioned. These minerals are

often of a very attractive character for cabinets.

The depth of this soil is sometimes thirty feet; and in this the

diggings have been chiefly done, requiring no other machinery than is

used in well-digging; and the stratum of rock has generally put a stop

to the progress of the miner, although veins of ore penetrating it have

often invited him in the pursuit. But it requires different tools,

machinery, and works, for mining in rock; the process is also more

tedious and expensive, and is considered especially so by those who have

been accustomed from their youth to find bodies of ore by a few days'

digging in the earth, and who, if they should work a fortnight at one

place, and not fall upon a bed of ore, would go away quite disheartened.

The principal search has therefore been made in the sub-stratum of clay,

where large bodies of ore are sometimes found by a day's, and sometimes

by an hour's work. Hence, in the neighborhood of Potosi, the ground has

been pretty well explored, and more search and labor is required to find

it than in other and more distant places, where new mines continue

annually to be discovered. But, with the exception of Austin's shaft,

who sunk eighty feet, and the mines opened by Jones, the rock at this

mine remains unpenetrated. Austin found large quantities of ore filling

crevices in the rock, and the appearances were flattering when the last

work was done. In sinking down, a change in the rock was experienced,

passing from compact solid gray limestone, by several gradations, into a

loose granulated limestone, very friable, and easily reduced to grains.

This stone was in some instances completely disintegrated, forming a

calcareous sand; and the most compact bodies of it, on a few weeks'

exposure at the mouth of the shaft, fall into grains. These grains are,

however, wholly calcareous, and readily soluble in nitric and muriatic

acids. The portion which I submitted to experiment was taken up

completely, nor was any sediment deposited by many months' standing. On

going deeper, the rock again graduated into a compact limestone, very

hard, and of a bluish-gray color, in which were frequently found small

cavities studded over with minute pyramids of limpid quartz. These

variations in the structure of the earth and rock in that place, are

still observable by the stones, spars, and other minerals, lying around

the mouths of the mines; and, upon the whole, the appearances are such

as to justify a conclusion that the lower strata of rocks at Potosi, and

the numerous mines in its vicinity, are of a highly metalliferous

character, and such as to warrant the expenditures incident to a search.

From a statement lately drawn up, and certified by the proprietors of

warehouses at Herculaneum, it appears that the total quantity of pig and

bar lead, and shot, exported from that place, from January 1, 1817, to

June 1, 1818, a period of eighteen months, was 3,194,249 pounds.

Herculaneum may be considered the depot for the lead of Mine Shibboleth,

Richwoods, Bellefontaine, a portion of the lead of Mine a Burton and

Potosi, and a few other mines in that neighbourhood. Perhaps nearly or

quite half of the whole quantity of lead yearly smelted at the Missouri

mines, is shipped from this place. Here then is an average product of

2,395,667 pounds per annum, for the years 1817 and 1818, from those

mines which send their lead to Herculaneum.

Assuming the ground that these mines produce only half of what is

annually made at the whole number of mines, which I conclude may be a

true estimate, we shall arrive at the conclusion, that the annual

product of the Missouri mines for those years was four millions, seven

hundred and ninety-one thousand, three hundred and thirty-four pounds.

This, estimated at the present price of four cents per pound, gives us a

sum of one hundred and ninety-one thousand, six hundred and fifty-three

dollars. This is the produce of one year; and supposing the mines to

have produced the same average quantity during every year since they

have been in possession of the United States, we have a sum of three

millions, sixty-six thousand, four hundred and forty-eight dollars;

which is more than the original cost of Louisiana, as purchased from

France during the administration of President Jefferson. Let those who

have any doubts of the value of our mines, reflect upon this, and

consider that it was the product of a year when the mines were in a

manifest state of decline, and wrought wholly by individuals, with a

foreign competition to oppose, and without the benefits resulting from a

systematic organization of the mining interest.

Nearly all the lead smelted at the Missouri mines is transported in

carts and wagons from the interior to St. Genevieve and Herculaneum. As

it must necessarily be deposited for storage at those places, it was

naturally expected that authentic accounts of the lead manufactured in

the Territory for many years, might be obtained on application. But in

this, I experienced some degree of disappointment. At St. Genevieve,

although a warehouse has been kept at the landing for many years, the

lead sent to town has not all been stored. From the earliest time, and

before the establishment of a warehouse by Mr. Janies, the French

inhabitants of St. Genevieve had all been more or less engaged in the

storage, purchase, and traffic of lead. Every dwelling-house thus became

a storehouse for lead, and, in these cases, no regular accounts were

kept of the quantities received or delivered. The same practice has, in

some measure, continued since, so that it is impossible to obtain, with

any precision, the amount shipped from this place. At Herculaneum, a

warehouse has been kept since the year 1816; and on application to Mr.

Elias Bates, the proprietor, he was so obliging as to allow me

permission to peruse his book of receipts, for the purpose of making

extracts. The following details embrace the receipts of lead at that

place for a period of two years and eleven months, ending May 18, 1819.

I. _A Series of Receipts, from June 16, 1816, to December 31 of the same

year, being a period of six months and fourteen days._

Fol. 1. Aggregate of receipts 52,781 lbs.

2. 57,097

3. 55,039

4. 58,892

5. 50,639

6. 63,787

7. 55,663

8. 47,287

--------

Aggregate of separate individual acc'ts during same period. 322,134

--------

Total. 763,319

II. _A Series of Receipts from 31st Dec. 1816, to 31st Dec. 1817._

Fol. 1. Aggregate of receipts. 12,375 lbs.

2. 51,521

3. 49,023

4. 60,576

5. 54,242

6. 47,321

7. 60,956

8. 51,420

9. 43,774

10. 42,694

11. 47,958

12. 15,482

-------

537,343

Aggregate of separate individual acc'ts during same period. 501,903

---------

Total 1,039,246

III. _A Series of Receipts from 31st Dec. 1817, to 31st Dec. 1818._

Fol. 1. Aggregate of receipts 24,261 lbs.

2. 45,981

3. 31,041

4. 39,424

5. 34,711

6. 44,266

7. 31,315

8. 56,442

9. 33,932

--------

341,372

Aggregate of separate individual acc'ts during same period. 112,203

--------

Total 453,575

IV. _A Series of Receipts from 31st Dec. 1818, to 18th May 1819._

Fol. 1. Aggregate of receipts 14,764 lbs.

2. 44,323

3. 44,628

-------

103,715

Aggregate of separate individual acc'ts during same period. 26,211

-------

Total 129,926

RECAPITULATION.

1816 763,319 lbs.

1817 1,039,246

1818 453,575

1819 129,926

---------

Total 2,386,066

During eighteen months of the same period, from Dec. 31st, 1816, to June

1st, 1818, there was deposited with, and shipped by, sundry other

persons in Herculaneum, as ascertained by Colonel S. Hammond and M.

Austin, Esq., 517,495 pounds of lead, together with patent shot,

manufactured by Elias Bates and Christian Wilt, to the amount of 668,350

pounds. For the remaining part of the estimated term, (two years and

eleven months,) it is reasonable to presume that a like quantity of lead

was exported through private channels at Herculaneum, and a like

quantity of shot manufactured by Messrs. Bates and Wilt. This will make

the quantity of pig and bar lead shipped by individuals, 1,034,990

pounds, and the quantity of patent shot manufactured, 1,356,700 pounds;

which two sums, added to the receipts of Mr. Bates's warehouse, as

detailed above, gives us an aggregate amount of 4,757,990 pounds, for

the period of two years and eleven months. St. Genevieve, as has already

been mentioned, is probably the storehouse for one-half of the mines,

and may therefore be estimated to have received and exported the same

quantity of pig and bar lead during the same period, making a total of

9,515,512 pounds, which gives an average product of more than three

million of pounds of lead per annum.

It would be interesting to know in what proportion the different mines

have contributed to this amount. The above details show us their

collective importance; but we should then be enabled to estimate their

individual and comparative value. With this view, I have compiled, from

the best information, the following:

ESTIMATE.

Mines. Pounds of lead. No. of hands.

Mine a Burton 1,500,000 160

Mine Shibboleth 2,700,000 240

Mine La Motte 2,400,000 210

Richwoods 1,300,000 140

Bryan's Mines }

Dogget's Mines } 910,100 80

Perry's Diggings 600,000 60

Elliot's Mines }

Old Mines } 45,000 20

Bellefontaine }

Mine Astraddle }

Mine Liberty }

Renault's Mines } 450,000 40

Mine Silvers }

Miller's Mines }

Cannon's Diggings }

Becquet's Diggings } 75,000 30

Little Mines }

Rocky Diggings }

Citadel Diggings }

Lambert's Mine } 1,160,000 130

Austin's Mines }

Jones's Mines }

Gravelly Diggings }

Scott's Mine }

Mine a Martin } 50,000 20

Mine a Robino }

---------- ----

11,180,000 1,130

In this estimate are included all persons concerned in the operations of

mining, and who draw their support from it; wood-cutters, teamsters, and

blacksmiths, as well as those engaged in digging and smelting lead-ore,

&c. The estimate is supposed to embrace a period of three years, ending

1st June, 1819, and making an average product of 3,726,666 lbs. per

annum, which is so near the result arrived at in the preceding details,

as to induce a conclusion that it is essentially correct, and that the

mines of Missouri, taken collectively, yield this amount of pig-lead

annually.

The United States acquired possession of the mines in the year 1803,

fifteen years ago last December; and, assuming the fact that they have

annually produced this quantity, there has been smelted, under the

American government, fifty-five million pounds of lead.

On the view which has now been taken of the Missouri mines, it may be

proper here to remark--

1. That the ores of these mines are of the richest and purest kind, and

that they exist in such bodies as not only to supply all lead for

domestic consumption, but also, if the purposes of trade require it, are

capable of supplying large quantities for exportation.

2. That although at different periods the amount of lead manufactured

has been considerable, yet this produce has been subject to perpetual

variation, and, upon the whole, has fallen, in the aggregate, far short

of the amount the mines are capable of producing. To make these mines

produce the greatest possible quantity of lead of which they are

capable, with the least possible expense, is a consideration of the

first political consequence, to which end it is desirable that the

reserved mines be disposed of, to individuals, or that the term for

which leases are granted be extended from three to fifteen years, which

will induce capitalists, who are now deterred by the illiberality of

governmental terms, to embark in mining. That there be laid a

governmental duty of two and a half cents per pound on all imported pig

and bar lead, which will exclude foreign lead from our markets, and

afford a desired relief to the domestic manufacturer. The present duty

is one cent per pound. But this does not prevent a foreign competition;

and the smelters call for, and appear to be entitled to, further

protection.

3. That although the processes of mining now pursued are superior to

what they were under the Spanish government, yet there is a very

manifest want of skill, system, and economy, in the raising of ores, and

the smelting of lead. The furnaces in use are liable to several

objections. They are defective in the plan, they are constructed of

improper materials, and the workmanship is of the rudest kind. Hence,

not near the quantity of metallic lead is extracted from the ore which

it is capable, without an increase of expense, of yielding. There is a

great waste created by smelting ore in the common log furnace, in which

a considerable part of the lead is volatilized, forming the sublimated

matter which adheres in such bodies to the sides of the log furnaces,

and is thrown by as useless. This can be prevented by an improvement in

its construction. To pursue mining with profit, it is necessary to

pursue it with economy; and true economy is, to build the best of

furnaces, with the best of materials. At present the furnaces are

constructed of common limestone, which soon burns into quicklime, and

the work requires rebuilding from the foundation. Not only so, but the

frequency with which they require to be renewed, begets a carelessness

in those who build them, and the work is accordingly put up in the most

ordinary and unworkmanlike manner. Instead of limestone, the furnaces

ought to be constructed of good refractory sandstone, or apyrous clay,

in the form of bricks, which will resist the action of heat for a great

length of time. Both these substances are the production of that

country, and specimens of them are now in my possession.

4. From the information afforded, it has been seen that the mines are

situated in a country which affords a considerable proportion of the

richest farming-lands, producing corn, rye, wheat, tobacco, hemp, flax,

oats, &c., in the greatest abundance, and that no country is better

adapted for raising cattle, horses, hogs, and sheep. The country is well

watered, and with the purest of water; the climate is mild and pleasant,

the air dry and serene, and the region is healthy in an unusual degree.

Every facility is also afforded by its streams for erecting works for

the manufacture of white and red lead, massicot, litharge, shot,

sheet-lead, mineral yellow, and the other manufactures dependent upon

lead. The country also abounds with various useful minerals besides

lead, which are calculated to increase its wealth and importance. It is

particularly abundant in iron, zinc, manganese, sulphur, salt, coal,

chalk, and ochre.

5. That a systematic organization of the mining interest would have a

tendency to promote the public welfare. To this end, there should be

appointed an officer for the inspection and superintendence of mines. He

should reside in the mine country, and report annually to the proper

governmental department on the state of the mines, improvements, &c. His

duty should consist in part of the following items, viz.:

_a._ To lease out public mines, and receive and account for rents.

_b._ To prevent the waste and destruction of wood on the public lands.

_c._ To see that no mines were wrought without authority.

_d._ To keep the government informed, periodically, of the quantity of

lead made at the different mines, and of new discoveries of lead, or any

other useful minerals; and,

_e._ To explore, practically, the mineralogy of the country, in order

fully to develop its mineral character and importance. Connected with

these duties, should be the collection of mineralogical specimens for a

national cabinet of natural history at Washington.

The superintendent of mines should be a practical mineralogist, and such

a salary attached to the office as to induce a man of respectable

talents and scientific acquirements to accept the appointment. To allow

the manufacturers of lead every advantage consistent with the public

interest, the rent charged on mines should not exceed two and a half per

cent. on the quantity manufactured, which is equivalent to the proposed

governmental duty on imported lead, whereby the revenue would not only

be kept up, but might be considerably enhanced. The foregoing details

exhibit an annual produce of 3,726,666 pounds of lead, which, it is

presumable, may be half the quantity the mines are capable of producing,

with proper management. But, estimating the lead at four cents per

pound, and taking that as the average quantity, the annual rents, at two

and a half per cent., will create a revenue of thirty-two thousand four

hundred and ninety dollars.

This subject is believed to be one that commends itself to the attention

of the government, which has, from a policy early introduced, reserved

the mineral lands on the public domain. No one can view it in the light

of these facts, without perceiving the propriety and necessity of an

efficient organization of this branch of the public interest.

FOOTNOTES:

[12] The following sketch of the life of Burton is given by Colonel

Thomas H. Benton, of St. Louis, in the Enquirer of that city, October

16, 1818:--"He is a Frenchman, from the north of France. In the

fore-part of the last century, he served in the Low Countries, under the

orders of Marshal Saxe. He was at Fontenoy when the Duke of Cumberland

was beat there by that Marshal. He was at the siege of Bergen-op-Zoom,

and assisted in the assault of that place when it was assailed by a

division of Marshal Saxe's army, under the command of Count Lowendahl.

He has also seen service upon this continent. He was at the building of

fort Chartres, on the American bottom; afterwards went to fort Du Quesne

(now Pittsburgh), and was present at Braddock's defeat. From the life of

a soldier, Burton passed to that of a hunter; and in this character,

about half a century ago, while pursuing a bear to the west of the

Mississippi, he discovered the rich lead-mines which have borne his name

ever since. His present age cannot be ascertained. He was certainly an

_old soldier_ at fort Chartres, when some of the people of the present

day were little children at that place. The most moderate computation

will make him a hundred and six. He now lives in the family of Mr.

Micheaux, at the little rock ferry, three miles above St. Genevieve, and

walks to that village almost every Sunday to attend mass. He is what we

call a square-built man, of five feet eight inches high, full chest and

forehead; his sense of seeing and hearing somewhat impaired, but free

from disease, and apparently able to hold out against time for many

years to come."

[13] The following is a list of the principal mines worked under the

Spanish government, with their situation:

Mine La Motte Head of St. Francis river.

Mine a Joe On Flat river.

Mine a Burton On a branch of Mineral Fork.

Old Mines On a branch of Mineral Fork.

Renault's Mines On Mineral Fork, or Fourche Arno.

[14] A law erecting the Territory of Arkansas from the southern part of

Missouri, has since passed; but its northern boundary is extended so as

to include all White river above the latitude of 36 deg. 30'.

[15] The following are the principal historical epochs of Louisiana,

chronologically arranged:

A. D.

Discovered by Ferdinand de Soto, and named Florida 1539

Visited by the French from Canada 1674

Settlement made by La Salle 1683

A settlement made at Beloxi 1699

Granted to Crozat by Louis XIV., 14th September 1712

New Orleans founded by the French 1717

Retroceded to the crown by Crozat 1717

Granted to the Company of the West 1717

Retroceded by the Company of the Wes 1731

Ceded by France to Spain 1762

First occupied by the Spanish 1769

Ceded to the United States 1803

Taken possession of by the United States, 20th December 1803

Louisiana became a State, August 1812

Missouri Territory erected, 4th June 1812

[16] On this passage, Mr. Silliman remarks, "that sulphur is not

poisonous to men or animals.... The _carbonate_ of barytes is eminently

poisonous; but we have never heard that the sulphate is so. May not the

licking around the furnaces expose the cattle to receive lead, in some

of its forms, minutely divided? or, if it be not active in the metallic

state, both the oxide and the carbonate, which must of course exist

around the furnaces, would be highly active and poisonous. Is it not

possible, also, that some of the natural waters of the country may, in

consequence of saline or acid impregnations, dissolve some of the lead,

and thus obtain saturnine qualities? We must allow, however, that we are

not acquainted with the existence of any natural water thus

impregnated."--JOUR. SCI., Vol. III.

[17] I was mistaken in supposing this the only locality of the fluate of

lime in the United States. It has also been found "in Virginia, near

Woodstock or Miller's town, Shenandoah county, in small loose masses, in

the fissures of a limestone containing shells. (Barton.)--In Maryland,

on the west side of the Blue Ridge, with sulphate of barytes.

(Hayden.)--In New Jersey, near Franklin Furnace, in Sussex county,

disseminated in lamellar carbonate of lime, and accompanied with mica

and carburet of iron; also near Hamburg, in the same county, on the

turnpike to Pompton, in a vein of quartz and feldspar. (Bruce.)--In New

York, near Saratoga Springs, in limestone; it is nearly colorless, and

penetrated by pyrites.--In Vermont, at Thetford.--In Connecticut, at

Middletown, in a vein, and is accompanied by sulphurets of lead, zinc,

and iron. (Bruce.)--In Massachusetts, at the lead-mine in Southampton,

where it is imbedded in sulphate of barytes, or granite; its colors are

green, purple, &c.--In New Hampshire, at Rosebrook's Gap, in the White

Mountains, in small detached pieces. (Gibbs.)"--CLEVELAND'S MINERALOGY.

MINERALOGY.

A CATALOGUE OF THE MINERALS OF THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.

In the arrangement of this catalogue, the order introduced in Professor

Cleveland's mineralogical tables, has been chiefly observed. It is the

commencement of an investigation into the physical history, character,

and mineral resources of the West, which it will become the duty of

future observers to continue and perfect. The field is an extensive one,

and invites attention. The order and beauty that are observed in this

branch of natural history, afford as striking proofs as any of the other

departments of it, of that design which, in so remarkable a manner,

pervades the organization of the various classes of bodies, animate and

inanimate, on the surface of the globe. So far as respects mineralogy,

its species and varieties have not all been seen, in crystallized forms,

agreeably to our imperfect state of microscopical knowledge; but as far

as the species have been brought within observation, in the classes of

crystals and crystallized ores, they rival, in their colors and exact

geometrical forms, other systems of bodies.

In revising the list, those specimens are dropped, respecting which

further reflection or examination has shown, either that the early

descriptions were imperfect, or that the quantity of the mineral was

deficient.

I. ALKALINE AND EARTHY SALTS.

1. Nitrate of potash. Nitre.

2. Muriate of soda. Salt.

3. Sulphate of barytes. Heavy spar.

4. Carbonate of lime. Calc. spar.

_a._ Rhombic crystals.

_b._ Concrete forms.

5. Fluate of lime. Fluor spar.

6. Sulphate of lime. Gypsum.

7. Sulphate of magnesia. Magnesia.

8. Sulphate of alumine and potash. Alum.

II. EARTHY COMPOUNDS AND STONES.

9. Quartz.

_a._ Hexagonal crystals.

_b._ Radiated.

_c._ Chalcedony.

_d._ Agatized wood.

_e._ Agate.

_f._ Jasper.

_g._ Hornstone.

_h._ Red ferruginous quartz.

_i._ Tabular quartz.

_j._ Granular quartz.

_k._ Hoary quartz.

_l._ Carnelian.

_m._ Buhrstone.

_n._ Opalized wood.

10. Pumice.

11. Mica.

12. Feldspar.

13. Hornblende.

14. Greenstone porphyry.

15. Clay.

_a._ Native alumine.

_b._ Indurated clay.

_c._ Reddle.

16. Basanite.

17. Indian pipestone.

Opwagonite.

18. Schoerl.

19. Novaculite.

III. COMBUSTIBLES.

20. Sulphur.

_a._ Crystallized.

_b._ Concrete.

21. Graphite.

22. Coal.

_a._ Slaty-bituminous.

_b._ Wood-coal.

Bituminous shale.

IV. METALS.

23. Native copper.

24. Iron.

25. Sulphuret of iron.

26. Iron glance.

27. Micaceous oxide of iron.

28. Brown oxide of iron.

29. Ironstone.

30. Argillaceous oxide of iron.

31. Ochrey oxide of iron.

32. Sulphuret of lead.

_a._ Common galena.

_b._ Specular.

_c._ Granular.

_d._ Cobaltic.

33. Carbonate of lead.

34. Earthy oxide of lead.

35. Sulphuret of zinc.

36. Sulphuret of manganese.

FIRST CLASS.

1. NITRE--SALTPETRE. This salt, in its efflorescent state,

exists extensively in the limestone caves of Missouri and Arkansas. It

also impregnates the masses of earth found in these recesses. This earth

is lixiviated with wood-ashes, which allows the nitre to take a

crystalline form. I visited a large cavern, about eighty miles

south-west of Potosi, where this salt was manufactured, and observed its

efflorescences in other caves in the Ozark range.

2. MURIATE OF SODA. About one hundred and fifty thousand

bushels of common salt are annually made from the United States' saline

on Salt river, in Illinois. It appears, from the remains of antique

broken vessels found in that locality, to have been manufactured there

by the ancient inhabitants. There is a saline, which has been profitably

worked, on Saline creek, in St. Genevieve county. Two salt springs are

worked, in a small way, in Jefferson county, Mo. The springs in Arkansas

are reported to be extensive, and rumors of rock-salt on its plains have

been rife, since the purchase of Louisiana. The hunters whom I met in

the Ozark range, invariably affirmed its existence, in crystalline solid

masses, in that quarter; from which also, it is to be recollected, De

Soto's scouts brought it, in 1542.

3. SULPHATE OF BARYTES--HEAVY SPAR. This mineral is found, in

considerable quantities, at the principal lead-mines of Missouri, west

of the Mississippi. It presents its usual characters--it is heavy,

white, shining, opaque, and easily fractured. It is sometimes found

crested, columnar, prismatic, or in tabular crystallizations. Its

surface is frequently covered by a yellowish, ochrey earth, or

ferruginous oxide. It sometimes exists as the matrix of the sulphuret of

lead--more frequently, as one of its accompanying minerals.

4. CARBONATE OF LIME.

a. _Calc. Spar._ This form of the carbonate of lime is common in the

lead-mine regions of Missouri. At Hazel run, it constitutes, to some

extent, the gangue of the lead-ores. It is generally imbedded in lumps

in the red clay mineral soil. These lumps are round, externally; but, on

being broken, reveal a rhomboidal structure, and are beautifully

transparent.

b. _Stalactites._ This form of the carbonate of lime is found in a cave

on the head-waters of Currents river, in Missouri. The stalactites are

found in concretions resembling icicles hanging from the roof, or in

columns reaching to the floor. The specimens are translucent.

Stalactites are also found in a very large cave (Winoca) on Findley's

fork, one of the tributaries of White river, Arkansas. They form two

large vases in this cave, which are filled with the most crystalline

water.

c. _Stalagmite_ (Calcareous Alabaster). The cave which has just been

mentioned on Findley's fork, affords this mineral in small, solid

globules, which strew the floor of the cave.

5. FLUOR SPAR. The elevated lands on the west banks of the

Ohio, near the picturesque shores of Cave-in-Rock, in Illinois, disclose

this mineral. It exhibits its well-known character. It is generally of a

purple, or amethystine hue, and crystallized, as its primary form, in

cubes. Externally, these crystals are dull. Its association here is with

the ores of lead, which have been extensively searched for in former

times. It is plentifully found, sometimes in large crystals, which have

an external appearance as if they had been subjected to the influence of

turbid water. It has been thus far, chiefly, explored in the diluvial

stratum.

6. GYPSUM. Foliated masses of this mineral occur in the river

cliffs in St. Clair county, Illinois. It is found in large quantities

near the salines in Upper Arkansas. Dr. Sibley, speaking of the

formation in that vicinity, says: "It is a tract of about seventy-five

miles square, in which nature has arranged a variety of the most strange

and whimsical vagaries. It is an assemblage of beautiful meadows,

verdant ridges, and rude misshapen piles of red clay, thrown together in

the utmost apparent confusion, yet affording the most pleasing

harmonies, and presenting in every direction an endless variety of

curious and interesting objects. After winding along for a few miles on

the high ridges, you suddenly descend an almost perpendicular declivity

of rocks and clay, into a series of level and fertile meadows, watered

by some beautiful rivulets, and adorned here and there with shrubby

cotton trees, elms, and cedars. These meadows are divided by chains

formed of red clay, and huge masses of gypsum, with here and there a

pyramid of gravel. One might imagine himself surrounded by the ruins of

some ancient city, and that the plain had sunk by some convulsion of

nature more than one hundred feet below its former level; for some of

the huge columns of red clay rise to the height of two hundred feet

perpendicular, capped with rocks of gypsum, which the hand of time is

ever crumbling off, and strewing in beautiful transparent flakes, along

the declivities of the hill, glittering like so many mirrors in the

sun."

7. SULPHATE OF MAGNESIA. A large and curious cavern has been

discovered in the calcareous rocks at Corydon, near the seat of

government of Indiana, which is found to yield very beautiful white

crystals of this mineral. To what extent these appearances exist, is

unknown; but the cavern invites exploration.

8. ALUM. Efflorescences of the sulphate of alumina exist in a

calcareous cavern in the elevated ranges of Bellevieu, in the county of

Washington, Mo. No practical use is made of it.

9. QUARTZ. This important family of mineral bodies exists, in

many of its forms, on the west banks of the Mississippi. They will be

noticed under their appropriate names.

a. _Granular Quartz._ There is a very large body of this mineral about

eight miles west of St. Genevieve, near the Potosi road. It is known as

the site of a remarkable cave. The sides, roof, and floor of the cave,

consist of the most pure and white granular quartz. It is quite friable

between the fingers, and falls into a singularly transparent and

beautiful sand. Each of these grains, when examined by the microscope,

is found to be a transparent molecule of pure quartz. It possesses no

definable tint of color, is not acted upon by either nitric or muriatic

acids, and appears to be an aggregation of minute crystals of quartz. It

occurs in several caves near the road, whose sides are entirely composed

of it; and its snowy hue, and granular structure, give it the appearance

of refined sugar. It appears to me to be composed of silex nearly or

quite pure, and possesses, as I find on treatment with potash, the

property of easy fusibility. Could the necessary alkali and apyrous

clays be conveniently had at this spot, I cannot conceive a more

advantageous place for a manufactory of crystal glass.

b. _Radiated Quartz._ This mineral is found in great abundance at the

Missouri lead-mines, where it bears the striking name of mineral

blossom, or blossom of lead--an opinion being entertained that it

indicates the presence or contiguity of lead-ore. Examined with care, it

is found to consist of small crystals of quartz, disposed in radii,

which resemble the petals of a flower. These crystals are superimposed

on a basis consisting of thin lines, or tabular layers, of agate. It is

found either strewn on the surface of the soil, imbedded in it, or

existing in cavities in the limestone rock.

c. _Chalcedony._ This species is brought down the Mississippi or

Missouri, and deposited in small fragments along the Missouri shore. It

also constitutes the principal layers in the thin tabular, or mamillary

masses, which constitute the basis of the radiated quartz. Most

commonly, it is bluish-white, or milk-white.

d. _Agatized Wood._ Fragments of this mineral are brought down the

Missouri, and deposited, in occasional pieces, along the banks of the

Mississippi.

e. _Hornstone--Chert._ This substance appears to have been imbedded

extensively in the calcareous strata of the Mississippi valley; for it

is scattered, as an ingredient, in its diluvions. Frequently it is in

chips, or fragments, all of which indicate a smooth conchoidal fracture.

Sometimes it consists of parts of nodules. Sometimes it is still solidly

imbedded in the rock, or consolidated strata, as on the coast below

Cape Girardeau, Mo. Indeed, so far as observation goes, it characterizes

all the district of country between the western banks of the Mississippi

river, and the great prairies and sand deserts at the foot of the Rocky

mountains. Its color is generally brown, with different shades of

yellow, black, blue, or red. It appears nearly allied to flint, into

which it is sometimes seen passing. It runs also into varieties of

jasper, chalcedony, and common quartz; and the different gradations from

well-characterized hornstone, until its distinctive characters are lost

in other sub-species of quartz, may be distinctly marked. The barbs for

Indian arrows, frequently found in this region, appear to have been

chiefly made of hornstone.

f. _Jasper._ This mineral also appears to have been imbedded in the

silico-calcareous rocks of the western valley; and it is found, in the

fragmentary form, on the banks of the Mississippi, and also on its

plains below the Rocky mountains. The fine yellow egg-shaped pebbles of

White river, are common jasper. Several specimens, picked up in a

desultory journey, possess striking beauty. The first is a uniform

bottle-green, very hard, and susceptible of a high polish. The second is

the fragment of a nodular mass, consisting of alternate concentric

stripes of green, brown, and yellow; the colors passing by imperceptible

shades into each other. A specimen found in Potosi consists of alternate

stripes of rose and flesh red.

g. _Agate._ This mineral is picked up, in a fragmentary form, along the

banks of the Mississippi. Its original repository appears to have been

the volcanic and amygdaloidal rocks about its sources, which have been

extensively broken down by geological mutations, during ante-historical

periods. The fragments are often beautifully transparent, sometimes

zoned or striped. Sometimes they are arranged in angles, presenting the

fortification-agate. The colors are various shades of white and red, the

latter being layers of carnelian. All the pieces found in this dispersed

state are harder than the imbedded species, and are with difficulty cut

by the lapidary.

h. _Opal._ A single specimen of this mineral, from the right banks of

the Ohio, near Cave-in-Rock, Illinois, is of a delicate bluish-white,

and opalesces on being held to the light. It is not acted on by acids.

This locality is remarkable as yielding galena, heavy spar, blende,

calcareous spar, fluor spar, pyrites, coal, and salt. It belongs to the

great secondary limestone formation of the Ohio valley. It is cavernous,

and yields some fossil impressions.

i. _Red Ferruginous Quartz._ This occurs as one of the imbedded

materials of the diluvion of the Mississippi valley.

k. _Rock Crystal._ Very perfect and beautiful crystals of this mineral

are procured near the Hot Springs of Arkansas. They consist, generally,

of six-sided prisms, terminated by six-sided pyramids. Some of these

are so perfectly limpid, that writing can be read, without the

slightest obscurity, through the parallel faces of the crystals.

l. _Pseudomorphous Chalcedony._ Lake Pepin, Upper Mississippi. This

appears to have been formed by deposition on cubical crystals, which

have disappeared.

m. _Tabular Quartz._ West bank of the Mississippi, Missouri. Of a white

color, semi-transparent. The plates are single, and the lines perfectly

parallel.

n. _Hoary Quartz._ West banks of the Mississippi, Mo. The character of

hoariness appears to be imparted by very minute crystals, or concretions

of quartz, on the surface of radiated quartz.

o. _Common Quartz._ This mineral is found in veins of from one to eight

or ten feet wide, in the argillaceous rock formation in the vicinity of

the Hot Springs of Washita. It is also seen, in very large detached

masses, on the south bank of White river. The character of these rocks

will not be recognized on a superficial view; for they have a gray,

time-worn appearance, and are so much covered by moss, that it was not

until I had broken off a fragment with a hammer, that I discovered them

to be white quartz. Pebbles of quartz, either white or variously colored

by iron, are common on the shores of White river, and, joined to the

purity and transparency of the waters, add greatly to the pleasure of a

voyage on that beautiful stream.

p. _Buhrstone._ Raccoon creek, Indiana. This bed is noted throughout the

western country, and affords a profitable branch of manufacture. It

covers an area of from ten to fifteen acres square. Its texture is

vesicular, yet it is sufficiently compact to admit of being quarried

with advantage, and the stones are applied to the purposes of milling

with the best success.

q. _Sedimentary Quartz--Schoolcraftite._ This mineral occurs three miles

from the Hot Springs of Washita. It is of a grayish-white color,

partaking a little of green, yellow, or red; translucent in an uncommon

degree, with an uneven and moderately glimmering fracture, and

susceptible of being scratched with a knife. Oil stones for the purpose

of honing knives, razors, or tools, are occasionally procured from this

place, and considerable quantities have been lately taken to New

Orleans. It gives a fine edge, and is considered equal to the Turkish

oil-stone. It appears to me, from external character and preliminary

tests, to consist almost entirely of silex, with a little oxide of iron.

Its compactness, superior softness, specific gravity, and coloring

matter, distinguish it from silicious sinter. It has been improperly

termed, heretofore, "novaculite." It contains no alumine. It sometimes

reveals partial conditions, or spots, of a degree of hardness nearly

equal to common quartz.

r. _Carnelian._ Banks of the Mississippi, above the junction of the

Ohio. Traces of this mineral begin to be found, as soon as the heavy

alluvial lands are passed. It is among the finest detritus of the

minerals of the quartz family, brought down from upper plains. The

fragments, in these lower positions, are small, transparent, and hard,

colored red or yellowish.

s. _Basanite--Touchstone._ This mineral is found in the Mississippi

detritus; but no fixed locality has been ascertained.

10. PUMICE. The light, vesicular substance, found floating down

the Missouri and Mississippi, is not, properly speaking, a true pumice,

capable of the applications of that article in the arts; but it cannot

be classified with any other species. It is more properly a

pseudo-pumice, arising from partial volcanic action on the formations of

some of the tributaries of the Missouri, which originate in the Rocky

mountains. It is brought down by the June flood, sometimes in large

masses, which, as the waters abate, are left on the islands or shores.

It is incompletely vitrified, consisting of spongy globules. The masses

are irregularly colored, agreeably to the vitrified materials, red,

black or brown. Its tenacity is very great.

30. MICA. In the granitical, or primitive district, at the

sources of the St. Francis. The great body of these rocks is a sienite,

or sienitic granite, or greenstone. Like the northern granitical tracts,

the mica is generally replaced by hornblende. The folia, usually, are

small.

31. FELDSPAR. With the preceding. The great bulk of these

granitical formations consists of red feldspar. Where the greenstone

becomes porphyritic, the feldspar is a light green.

32. HORNBLENDE. With the preceding. This mineral assumes its

crystalline form, in large areas of the sienite rock. With the two

preceding minerals, mica and feldspar, and common quartz, it constitutes

the mountain peaks of that remarkable district. It is the only locality,

except the Washita hills, where these formations rise to an elevation

above the great metalliferous sandstone, and carbonaceous deposits of

the central area of the Mississippi valley, south of the Sauk rapids,

above St. Anthony's falls, and the head-waters of the St. Peter's, or

Minnesota river. The latter constitute the northern limits of the great

horizontal, sedimentary, semi-crystallized rocks west of the

Alleghanies.

33. GREENSTONE PORPHYRY. With the preceding.

34. PUDDINGSTONE. In the tongue of land formed by the junction

of the Ohio with the Mississippi, directly beneath the alluvial lands at

the old site of fort Massac, and at the village called "America." Also,

in large, broken blocks, along the west shores of the Mississippi, near

the "chalk banks," so called, in Cape Girardeau county, and at Cape

Garlic, on the west banks of the Mississippi.

33. NATIVE ALUMINE--WHITE, FRIABLE, PURE CLAY. At the head of

Tiawapeta bottom, Little Chain of Rocks, west banks of the Mississippi,

Cape Girardeau county, Missouri. This remarkable body of white earth is

locally denominated chalk, and was thus called in the first edition of

this catalogue. It is employed as a substitute for chalk, but is found

to contain no carbonic acid, and is destitute of a particle of calcia.

It appears, from Mr. Jessup,[18] to be nearly pure alumine. The

traveller, on ascending the Mississippi from the mouth of the Ohio,

passes through a country of alluvial formation, a distance of

thirty-five miles. Here the first high land presents itself on the west

bank of the river, in a moderately elevated ridge, running from

south-east to north-west, and terminating abruptly in the bank of the

river, which here runs nearly at right angles with the ridge, and has

been worn away by the action of the water. This ridge consists of

secondary limestone, overlying a coarse reddish sandstone, which, at the

lowest stage of the water in summer, is seen in huge misshapen

fragments, at the immediate edge of the water, and at intervals nearly

half way across the river, as well as on the Illinois shore. The mineral

occurs in mass, abundantly. It is nearly dry, of a perfectly white

color, and chalky friability. It embraces masses of hornstone,

resembling flint. It also occurs at a higher point on the same shore,

two miles below the Grand Tower.

34. PLASTIC WHITE CLAY. Gray's mine, Jefferson county, Mo.

35. OPWAGUNITE[19]--GEOGNOSTIC RED CLAY. Prairie des Couteau,

between the sources of the St. Peter's river and the Missouri. It exists

in lamellar masses, beneath secondary masses. It is of a dull red color,

is soft, compact, easily cut, and is a material much employed and valued

by the Indians for carving pipes, and sometimes neck ornaments.

Occasionally it has brighter spots of pale red. It is also found on the

Red Cedar, or Folle Avoine branch of Chippewa river, Wisconsin, of a

darker color, approaching to that of chocolate. It is polished by the

Indians with rushes.

III. COMBUSTIBLES.

36. SULPHUR. In flocculent white deposits, in a spring,

Jefferson county, Missouri.

37. MINERAL COAL. Bituminous, slaty coal, constitutes a very

large geological basin in the Ohio and Mississippi valleys, where it

appears to have resulted from the burial of ancient forests. At

Pittsburgh, I found it composing thick strata in elevated grounds, on

the south banks of the Monongahela river. In an excursion up that

stream, it characterizes its banks at intervals for forty miles. It

inflames easily, burns with a pitchy smoke and bituminous smell, and

throws out a great heat. It occurs in veins in limestone, along with

argillaceous slate, indurated clay, red sandstone, and bituminous shale,

which are arranged in alternate strata, one above the other, preserving

an exact parallelism with the waters of the Alleghany, Monongahela, and

Ohio rivers. The coal always constitutes a vein between the shale and

clay which are found immediately above and below it. The clay appears to

have originated from the decomposition of shale; for it may be observed

in all stages of the decomposition, from a well-characterized

argillaceous slate, to plastic clay.

The veins of coal are from a foot to nine feet in thickness, and the

strata of coal, shale, limestone, &c., are repeated; so that the sides

of the hills which afford coal, exhibit several strata, with the rock

intervening, one above another. The greatest distance, in a

perpendicular direction, from one stratum to another, is perhaps one

hundred feet; and such is the regularity of the coal formation in this

region, that the description of one pit, or bed, will apply almost

equally to any other within a circuit of two hundred miles, every

section of which is characterized by coal. Sometimes pyrites of a

tin-white color are found mixed among the coal. In Missouri, it occurs

at Florrisant.

38. GRAPHITE--PLUMBAGO. Twelve miles south of Potosi,

Washington county, Mo., in a large body.

39. SULPHURET OF LEAD.

a. _Galena._ One of the most remarkable formations of this ore in

America, if not in the world, is furnished by the metalliferous

limestones of the Mississippi. Of these, Missouri furnishes one of the

most celebrated localities. These mines were first explored by the

renowned Mississippi Company, in 1719, and have continued to be worked

during the successive changes which it has experienced under the French,

Spanish, and Americans, to the present period. The number of mines now

wrought is about fifty, and the quantity of lead annually smelted is

estimated at three millions of pounds. The ore is the common galena,

with a broad glittering grain, and bluish-gray color, and is found

accompanied by sulphate of barytes, blende, pyrites, quartz, and

calcareous spar. It yields, on assay, eighty-two per cent. of metallic

lead, the remainder being chiefly sulphur. (Vide "View of the

Lead-Mines.")

b. _Granular Sulphuret of Lead._ Mine La Motte, Madison county,

Missouri.

c. _Cobaltic Sulphuret of Lead._ With the preceding.

40. OXIDE OF LEAD. Earthy, yellow. Wythe county, Virginia.

41. CARBONATE OF LEAD. Lead-mines of Missouri. It occurs in

some of the mines as a crust, or thin layer, on ores of galena.

42. SULPHURET OF ZINC. In the form of black blende. Lead-mines

of Missouri.

43. OXIDE OF ZINC. Earthy, grayish-white. In the mineral called

"dry-bone." Missouri lead-mines.

44. IRON.

a. _Iron Glance._ In the Iron Mountain and Pilot Knob, on the sources of

the river St. Francis, Missouri. It occurs in vast masses, granular, and

sometimes specular, without iridescence. Also, on White river, Arkansas.

b. _Micaceous Oxide of Iron._ Sources of the St. Francis river,

Missouri. A vein of this ore, several feet wide, is found in red

sienite, on the banks of the river St. Francis, at the Narrows, Madison

county, Missouri Territory. Its unusual appearance has for several years

attracted the attention of the inhabitants. It is situated four miles

south of the extensive lead-mines of La Motte, and in the centre of a

highly interesting geological and mineralogical section of country. The

rocks at that place are the old red granite and sienite, in mountain

masses, with veins of greenstone, greenstone porphyry, and gneiss.

c. _Red Oxide of Iron._ Flint river, Tennessee.

d. _Brown Haematite._ On the dividing ridge between Strawberry and Spring

rivers, Arkansas.

e. _Argillaceous Oxide of Iron--Ironstone._ Banks of the Monongahela,

Pennsylvania.

f. _Sulphuret of Iron._ Accompanying the ores and vein-stones of the

Missouri lead-mines.

g. _Magnetic Oxide of Iron._ Fifteen miles below the Hot Springs, on the

Washita river, Arkansas. In quantity.

45. BLACK OXIDE OF MANGANESE. On Big Sandy river, Kentucky.

Also, on the sources of the Maramec and Spring rivers, Missouri,

accompanied by the brown oxide of iron.

46. NATIVE COPPER. Scattered masses of this metal have been

found on Big river, and also in a shaft sunk near Harrisonville,

Illinois. Nothing, however, is known in America, to equal the vast

quantities of this metal found in the trap veins on the banks of lake

Superior.

47. SULPHATE OF COPPER. On the Washita river, fifteen miles

below the Hot Springs, Arkansas.

FOOTNOTES:

[18] Long's Expedition.

[19] From "opwaguu," (Algonquin) a pipe; and "lithos," (Gr.) a stone.

CATALOGUE OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGICAL SPECIMENS, (CONTINUED.)

OCTOBER, 1819.

1. Sulphate of lime. Arkansas.

2. Sulphuret of lead, in quartz. Washington county, Mo.

3. Agate, from Persia. Brought by Captain Austin.

4. Serpentine. Derby, Conn.

5. Galena upon crystallized quartz. Missouri.

6. Limpid quartz. Hot Springs, Arkansas.

7. Striped agate. St. Genevieve county, Mo.

8. Sienite. Persia.

9. Silicious breccia. Illinois.

10. Sulphuret of lead. Shangum Mountain, Ulster county, N. Y.

11. Garnet, in micaceous schistus. Watertown, Litchfield county, Conn.

12. Galena, iron pyrites, &c., in quartz. Northampton, Mass.

13. Serpentine. Derby, Conn.

14. Red granite. River St. Francis, Madison county, Missouri Territory.

15. Red oxide of zinc. Sussex county, N. J.

16. Metalliferous limestone. Missouri.

17. Agate. Strawberry river, Arkansas Territory.

18. Dolomite. Stockbridge, Mass.

19. Lamellar galena. Bryan's mines, St. Genevieve county, Mo.

20. Shell-limestone. Bermuda.

21. Arseniate of cobalt, with nickel, in actynolite. Chatham, Conn.

22. Galena in quartz. Shangum Mountain, N. Y.

23. Regulus of antimony.

24. Granular argillaceous oxide of iron (pea ore). Staten Island, N. Y.

25. Olivine. Europe.

26. Indicolite in lamellar feldspar. Chesterfield, Mass.

27. Brucite, (Gibbs,) silicious fluate of magnesia, in transition

carbonate of lime, with graphite. Sussex county, N. J.

28. Sulphate of lime. Nova Scotia.

29. Serpentine. Hoboken, N. J.

30. Sulphuret of antimony, with crystals of carbonate of lime.

Cornwall, England.

31. Chalcedony. Easthaven, Conn.

32. Arseniate of iron, in quartz. Connecticut.

33. Arseniate of cobalt, with iron pyrites and copper. Ireland.

34. Indurated talc. Hoboken, N. J.

35. Primitive granular limestone. Kingsbridge, N. Y.

36. Galena in quartz. Wales.

37. Carbonate and sulphuret of copper, with calcareous spar, in

sandstone. Schuyler's mines, Bergen county, N. J.

38. Iron pyrites (cubical). Haddam, Conn.

39. Ferruginous oxide of manganese. Greenwich street, New York city.

40. Green feldspar. Hoboken, N. J.

41. Chert. Wales.

42. Brown haematite. Salisbury, Conn.

43. Indicolite, in lamellar feldspar. Chesterfield, Mass.

44. Tremolite. Litchfield county, Conn.

45. Sappare (Cyanite of Cleveland). Litchfield county, Conn.

46. Chabasie. Deerfield, Mass.

47. Anthracite, with quartz. Rhode Island.

48. Fluate of lime. Derbyshire, Eng.

49. Asbestos. Milford, Conn.

50. Zeolite. Giants' Causeway, county of Antrim, Ireland.

51. Hydrate of magnesia. Hoboken, N. J.

52. Serpentine (verte antique). Milford, Conn.

53. Serpentine (pure). Milford, Conn.

54. Primitive granular limestone, equalling Carrara marble.

Stockbridge, Mass.

55. Precious serpentine. Hoboken, N. J.

56. Beryl, in granitic rock. Haddam, Conn.

57. Sediment in the Hot Springs of Washita, Arkansas Territory.

58. Asbestos. Milford, Conn.

59. Talc. Staten Island, Richmond county, N. Y.

60. Graphic granite. Staten Island, Richmond county, N. Y.

61. Amethystine quartz. Easthaven, Conn.

62. Prehinite. Hartford, Conn.

63. Jasper. Egypt.

64. Granite. Greenfield Hill, Conn.

65. Fibrous carbonate of lime, resembling zeolite. Hoboken, N. J.

66. Chalcedony. Easthaven, Conn.

67. Tremolite. Litchfield, Conn.

68. Sulphuret of antimony. Cornwall, Eng.

69. Sulphuret of antimony, Cornwall, Eng.

70. Agate. Corlaer's Hook, Island of New York.

71. Sulphuret of molybdena, in granite. Bergen, N. J.

72. Cellular mass of sandstone and quartz, with crystals of quartz.

Schuyler's mines, N. J.

73. Crystallized carbonate of lime, with carb'te of copper. Same mines.

74. Micaceous oxide of iron. River St. Francis, Madison county, Mo.

75. Petrified wood. Locality unknown.

76. Sulphate of copper (blue vitriol), with carbonate of copper, in a

ferruginous sandstone. Schuyler's mines, N. J.

77. Carbonate of copper. Schuyler's mines, N. J.

78. Agate. South bank of White river, Arkansas Territory.

79. Sulphuret of lead, carbonate of copper, and yellow oxide of iron.

Schuyler's mines, N. J.

80, 81, 82, and 83. Calcareous spar. Lead-mines, Missouri.

84 and 85. Sulphuret of lead, in sulphate of barytes. Lead-mines,

Missouri.

86. Argentiferous lead-glance. Mine La Motte, Missouri.

87. Specular oxide of iron, with quartz. Bellevieu, Washington county,

Missouri.

88. Sulphuret of zinc. Lead-mines, Missouri.

89. Yellow mamillary quartz, incrusted with sulphate of barytes and

haematitic iron. Old Mines, Missouri.

90. Lamellar sulphate of barytes. Lead-mines of Missouri.

91. Brown haematite. Staten Island, N. Y.

92. Greenstone porphyry. River St. Francis, Madison county, Mo.

93. Cubical lead-glance, with calcareous spar. Bryan's mines, Mo.

94. Crested sulphate of barytes. Lead-mines, Missouri.

95. Pyramidal sulphate of barytes (prism spar). Lead-mines, Missouri.

96. Lamellar sulphate of barytes, with galena. Lead-mines, Missouri.

97. Lamellar with crystals of calcareous spar. Lead-mines, Missouri.

98. Blende, with iron pyrites. Elliott's mines, Missouri.

99. Flint. Locality unknown.

100. Granular sulphuret of lead. Mine La Motte, Missouri.

101. Pumice of the Missouri river.

102. Pseudo-volcanic product of same.

103. Ferruginous sulphate of barytes, on radiated quartz. Lead-mines

of Missouri.

104. Crested brown oxide of iron. Jefferson county, Mo.

105. Radiated quartz, incrusted with sulphate of barytes and iron.

Potosi, Mo.

106. Granular lead-ore (a sulphuret). Mine La Motte, Mo.

107. Brown oxide of iron, crystallized in octahedrons. Washington

county, Mo.

108. Mamillary quartz, on a basis of agate. River St. Francis, Mo.

109. Radiated quartz. Lead-mines of Missouri.

110. Radiated quartz. Lead-mines of Missouri.

111, 112, 113, 114, and 115. Mamillary quartz. Lead-mines of Missouri.

116. Chalky clay. Cape Girardeau, Mo.

117. Cubical pyrites, with calcareous spar. Mineral Fork, Mo.

118. Radiated quartz, incrusted with crystallized oxide of iron.

Jefferson county, Mo.

119. Tabular galena. Bryan's mines, Mo.

120. Radiated quartz. Jefferson county, Mo.

121. Radiated quartz. Potosi.

122. Hoary quartz (a variety unnoticed in the books). Potosi.

123. Galena, in heavy spar. Potosi.

124. Galena, on radiated quartz. Potosi.

125. Carbonate of lime, covered by crystals of quartz. Potosi.

126. Metalliferous limestone. Potosi.

127. Metalliferous limestone. Potosi.

128. Granite. Missouri.

129. Radiated limpid quartz. Lead-mines of Missouri.

130 and 131. Sulphuret of lead. Potosi.

132. Galena, with calcareous spar. Bryan's mines, Mo.

133 and 134. Galena, partially desulphurated by beat. Potosi.

135. Chalcedony. St. Genevieve county, Mo.

136. Madreporite. Gallatin county, Illinois.

137. Primitive granular limestone. Carrara, Italy.

138. Egyptian marble.

139. Argillaceous porphyry. France.

140 and 141. Milford marble.

142 and 143. Philadelphia marble.

144. Egyptian marble.

145. Bituminous shale.

146. Cubical iron-ore. Jefferson county, Mo.

147. Regulus of nickel and cobalt.

148. Tourmaline. Greensburgh, Westchester county, N. Y.

149. Graphic granite. Corlaer's Hook, N. Y.

150. Fibrous gypsum. Nova Scotia.

151. Trap. Corlaer's Hook, N. Y.

152. Tremolite, in carbonate of lime. Somerstown, Westchester county,

New York.

153. Asbestos in steatite, on carbonate of lime. New York.

154. Asbestos in steatite, on carbonate of lime. New York.

155. Lamellar pyrites. Sussex county, N. J.

156. Graphite pyrites. Sussex county, N. J.

157. Pyrites, in hornblende. Sussex county, N. J.

158. Brass yellow pyrites. Sussex county, N. J.

159. Jaspery agate. Corlaer's Hook, N. Y.

160. Pyrites, with specular oxide of iron. Sussex county, N. J.

161. Sulphate of barytes. Schooley's Mountain, N. J.

162. Sulphate of barytes. Washington county, Mo.

163. Bitter spar. Hoboken, N. J.

164. Arseniate of cobalt. Chatham, Conn.

165. Sulphate of lime. Nova Scotia.

166. Granular quartz. St. Genevieve county, Mo.

167. Sulphate of lime. Nova Scotia.

168. Common striped jasper. Corlaer's Hook, N. Y.

169. Sulphate of lime. Nova Scotia.

170. Compact limestone. Herculaneum, Mo.

171. Limestone. St. Louis, Mo.

172. Fibrous quartz. Schuyler's mines, N. J.

173. Quartz. Dutchess county, &c., N. Y.

174. Sulphuret of zinc, in crystallized quartz. Ulster county, N. Y.

175. Brown haematite. Salisbury, Conn.

176. Greenstone porphyry. Madison county, Mo.

177. Galena. Missouri.

SHELLS.

1. Murex[*] canaliculatus, with Voluta mercatoria[*] included.

2. Murex[*] canaliculatus, with Voluta oliva[*] included.

3. Murex[*] canaliculatus, with serpulae attached and included.

4. Murex[*] carica, with two pairs Mya[*] arenaria.

5. Helix[*] ampullacea, with two small madrepores.[*]

6. Helix[*] ampullacea, with seven Cypraea[*] monita--African money.

7. Venus[*] mercenaria, with four small ones; a variety of species

included.

8. Venus[*] mercenaria, two valves, intermediate between the last

named.

9. Cardium[*] leucostomum.

10. Cardium[*] edule.

11. Buccinum[*] perdix, three shells.

12. Murex[*] peritoideus, two shells.

13. Venus[*] maculata.

14. Patella[*] fornicata, six shells.

15. Buccinum[*] testiculus, two shells.

16. Venus[*] Paphia, two valves.

17. Larva[*] of strombus gigas, six shells.

18. Buccinum[+] glabratum (Ebuma of Lamarck).

19 and 20. Cypraea[+] lirabica.

21. C. sordida,[*] Linn. C. carneola, Lam.

22. C. caput[*] serpentis. Viper's head; cowry.

23. C. exanthema.[*] (False argus.)

24. Buccinum[*] patulum.

25. Voluta prunum.[*]

26. Cypraea[*] lota, two shells.

27. Voluta guttrata.[+]

28. Bulla[*] gibbosa, seven shells.

29. Ostrea[*] edulis.

30. Peetsen.[*]

31. Venus[*] tigerina.

32. Tellina[*] radiata.

33. Dentralium.[*]

34. Nerita[*] mammilla.

35. Bulla[*] ampulla.

36. Voluta oryzy.[*] (Rice shells.)

37. Voluta[*] nivea.

38. Arca[*] glycymeris.

39. Cerea[*] noe.

40. Mytilus[*] modiolus.

[* Occidental shells.]

[+ Oriental shells.]

MINERAL RESOURCES OF THE WEST.

A LETTER TO CHARLES G. HAINES, ESQ., SECRETARY OF THE ASSOCIATION FOR

THE PROMOTION OF INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS AT NEW YORK.

NEW YORK, October 5th, 1819.

SIR: In reply to your communication of the 4th inst., I submit

the subjoined remarks on the following questions:--

I. "To what extent are the lead, and other mines, worked in our western

country, either by the United States' government, or by individuals?"

In the extensive region to which this inquiry has allusion, are found

numerous ores, salts, ochres, and other minerals; and the catalogue is

daily increasing, by the discovery of new substances, which promise to

become important to the commerce of the western country; but the only

mines worked are those of lead, iron, and coal.

The lead-mines are situated in Missouri Territory, (formerly Upper

Louisiana,) and extend on the western bank of the Mississippi for a

distance of about one hundred miles, by forty in width, comprising the

present counties of Washington, St. Genevieve, Jefferson, and Madison.

The first lead-ore was discovered by De Lochon, La Motte, and others,

acting under the authority of the Company of the West, as early as 1720.

Since which period, the number of mines has been annually increasing by

new discoveries, under the jurisdiction which has been successively

exercised over that country by France, Spain, and the United States. The

number of mines now worked is forty-five; thirty-nine of which are in

Washington county, three in St. Genevieve, one in Madison, and two in

Jefferson. The quantity of lead annually smelted from the crude ore, I

have estimated at three million pounds; and the number of hands to whom

it furnishes employment, at eleven hundred. A considerable proportion of

these are, however, farmers, who only turn their attention to mining a

part of the year, when their farms do not require their labor; the

residue are professed smelters and miners, including blacksmiths and

others, whose services are constantly required. The price of lead at the

mines is now four dollars per cwt. It is worth four dollars and fifty

cents on the banks of the Mississippi, at St. Genevieve and Herculaneum,

and is quoted at seven dollars in Philadelphia. The ore exclusively

worked is the common galena, or sulphuret of lead, with a broad

glittering grain. It is found in detached pieces and beds in red clay,

and in veins in limestone rock, accompanied by sulphate of barytes,

calcareous spar, blende, quartz, and pyrites. It melts easily, yielding,

in the large way, from sixty to seventy-five per cent. of pure metal. By

chemical analysis I procured eighty-two per cent. of metallic lead from

a specimen of common ore at Mine a Burton. The residue is chiefly

sulphur, with a little carbonate of lime and silex. It contains no

silver, or at least none which can be detected by the usual tests.

All the lead smelted at these mines is transported in carts and wagons

to the banks of the Mississippi, and deposited for shipment at

Herculaneum or St. Genevieve. The different mines are situated at

various distances, from thirty to forty-five miles in the interior, and

the cost of transportation may be averaged at seventy-five cents per

cwt. In summer, when the roads are in good order, it may be procured at

fifty cents; but in the spring and fall, when the roads are cut up, it

will cost one dollar. The transportation from Herculaneum and St.

Genevieve to New Orleans, may now be procured at seventy cents per cwt.

This is less than the sum paid, previous to the introduction of

steamboats on the Mississippi and its tributary streams. Hence, it costs

more to convey a hundredweight of lead forty miles by land, in wagons

and carts, than to transport the same one thousand miles (the distance

from Herculaneum to New Orleans) by steamboats. An improvement of the

streams of the mine country, so as to render them navigable at all

seasons for keel-boats and barges, is therefore a subject of the first

moment. The Maramec river, a stream of one hundred and eighty miles in

length, and a hundred yards wide at its mouth, which enters the

Mississippi eighteen miles below St. Louis, draws its waters from the

mining counties of Washington, Jefferson, St. Genevieve, and the

unincorporated wilderness on the south-east, and the fertile counties of

Franklin and St. Louis on the north-west; and its south-eastern

tributaries meander throughout the mine tract. The principal of these

are Grand river and Mineral Fork, which are navigable in spring and fall

for keel-boats of a small size, and might, I believe, be rendered so

throughout the year, at an inconsiderable expense.

The lead-mines are exclusively worked by individuals, either under the

authority of leases obtained from the United States for a limited time;

on lands which were granted by the French or Spanish, and the titles to

which have been subsequently confirmed by the United States; on

unconfirmed lands; or in violation of existing laws.

There are few sections of the valley of the Mississippi which are not

characterized by iron and coal. Iron-ore is abundant on the Ohio and its

tributaries, particularly on the Alleghany, Monongahela, and Muskingum.

It is worked at several foundries in the counties of Fayette, Armstrong,

and Alleghany, in Pennsylvania. The most noted furnaces are at

Brownsville, from which the extensive foundries at Pittsburgh are

chiefly supplied with pig-iron. It is also worked at Zanesville, on the

Muskingum, and on Brush creek, in Ohio; and a foundry at Cincinnati, and

another at Louisville, in Kentucky, are supplied with pig-iron from the

latter place. The ore is chiefly of that kind called the argillaceous

oxide, and produces iron which is well adapted for steam-engine

machinery, and for hollow-ware.

Stone-coal, of an excellent quality, is abundant at Pittsburgh, where it

is largely consumed in iron-foundries, glass-furnaces, and other

manufactories, and also in private dwellings. The most extensive pits or

galleries are situated immediately opposite the city, on Coal Hill,

where it has been pursued into the hill eight or nine hundred yards. It

is found breaking out on the banks of the Alleghany at several places,

at and near Kittaning, where beds of it have been opened; and I have

even observed traces of it in the vicinity of Olean, near the head of

Genesee river, in the State of New York. On the Monongahela it extends

by Williamsport, Brownsville, and Greensburgh, to the vicinity of

Morgantown, in Virginia; and such is the abundance of this mineral, and

the uniformity and regularity which the geological structure of this

part of the country presents, that there is no considerable section of

it, within a circle of two hundred miles in diameter around Pittsburgh,

which does not afford beds of good inflammable coal. Pursuing the Ohio

down from Pittsburgh, it is successively worked at Wellsburg, Wheeling,

Gallipolis, and Maysville. In Illinois, on Great Muddy river, and at

Alton; in Missouri, at Florissant, and on Osage river; and in Arkansas,

on the Washita river; this valuable mineral has also been found.

II. "What mines have been discovered?"

V. "Where are the most valuable mines to be found in the western

country?"