Search Documents

By H. M. Chance

The iron-ore deposits of the Hartville district are located near the new town of Guernsey, about 100 miles north of Cheyenne. The writer has been familiar with them since 1887, having visited the district several times for different clients— his last examination having been made in November and December, 1897. The deposits extend in a general N.E.-S.W. direction from a point in Section 33, Range 65 W., Township 28 N., on the west side of Whalen cañon, through Sections 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 of Township 27 N. in the same Range, and over into Sections 1 and 12 of Township 27 N., Range 66 W. General Characteristics. The ore is a remarkably pure red hematite, extremely low in phosphorus, and carrying a small percentage of silica, as shown by analyses given below, and similar in many respects

Jan 1, 1901

By Benj. Lyman

The Institute, in June, 1881, visited Low Moor in Alleghany County, Virginia, on the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway, seven miles easterly from Covington. Having occasion myself, a few days later, to make a very hasty geological reconnaissance of the iron-ores there, and finding them to be somewhat different in age from what was said to be the opinion of some of those who were there with the Institute, I have thought it worth while to bring the matter up again at the present meeting. According to the opinion quoted, the principal ore-banks belong to the Oriskany sandstone; and that seems to be the view entertained of the same ore in that region by Prof. Wm. B. Rogers in his reports of 1837 and 1838. it is likewise given by Prof. J. L. Campbell in a paper on the Rich-patch iron region in The Virginias for December, 1880 (vol. i., p. 189). A comparison, however, of the section at Low Moor with sections in Pennsylvania, shows clearly that the main ore-bed is the same as that of the bottom part of the Marcellus shales (part of Pa. and Va., No. VIII), a short distance above the top of the Oriskany sandstone (No. VII). The Upper Helderberg limestone is absent at Low Moor, as indeed it is at many places in Pennsylvania, and that is perhaps the reason why the ore has been thought to belong to the Oriskany sandstone. The ores and their accompanying rock-beds, are exposed in three or four folds near the Low Moor iron-mines on Fork Rim and, as described and pointed out by Mr. Geo. T. Wickes, who had in his management of several years' duration become well acquainted with them, are as follows, from above downwards:

Jan 1, 1886

My predecessor in the office of President of the Institute started a custom of visiting the various local sections, thus obtaining their points . of view and their ideas as to how the Institute can best serve the interests of its members. Exceedingly valuable- exchange of ideas was thus brought about. I am following this custom as far as the limited amount of free time at my disposal will allow me, and I trust that my successor in office will appreciate the benefit to be derived from following the custom thus initiated and will continue the swing around the circle of the local sections. The activities of the Institute are increased by the prestige gained from large numbers and I trust that every member of this local section will consider himself a member of the committee on increase of membership and will see if he is not able during the coming year to gain at least one new member for the Institute. This is a perfectly possible proposition for, although the membership of the Institute is at present approximately seven thousand, I feel sure there are at least seven thousand more men in the United States who are interested in mining, metallurgy or geology from the metal-mining point of view who would make admirable members or associate members of the Institute. The first consideration of the Institute as a body, and of each member as an individual, is to win the war and defeat the Huns. In order to accomplish this, the Institute, as a body, has cooperated with the other national engineering societies and the great bureaus of the Department of the Interior, the United States Geological Survey and the Bureau of Mines in forming committees to study and advise the Government on pressing problems of vital importance.

Jan 5, 1918

By H. C. Jennison

Two distinct types of defects occur at times in copper wire as a result of the use of dies of improper design or undesirable wire-drawing practice. The conditions under which these defects may be produced, as well as precautions to be taken in order to prevent them, have been known to The American Brass Co. for many years. The quality of the copper wire bars and rods has too often and unjustly been held responsible for these particular defects and it is to correct any such belief that this paper is presented. An extremely high quality of electrolytic copper has been supplied to the trade by all refineries for the last 20 years at least. The purity of the copper would average well above 99.900 per cent. The casting of the wire bars has been handled in a generally satisfactory manner. The bars have been cast sound, with a flat to slightly crowning set and have been free from sloppy edges, cold sets, etc. In other words, the wire bars have met A. S. T. M. specifications and have been generally satisfactory. For the most part, they have been everything that could be desired from a quality standpoint yet most of the wire mills in this country and in Europe have at times held the quality of the copper responsible for the two types of defects described in this paper. As a matter of fact, these defects are produced entirely in the wire mills. The author has visited many of the large wire mills in the United States and in Europe to investigate these defects. In some cases the trouble has been so serious that the wire mill has ceased operations. At times the wire mills are reluctant to believe that they are responsible for the defective product. The effect of die design, wire-drawing practice, etc., upon the quality of copper wire has received little study on the part of wire mills, particularly those that have commenced operations in the last few years. Two Types of Defects One type of defect is generally known in this country as "check marks;" in Europe it is termed "crowfeet" (Fig. 1). This defect occurs in the surface of the copper wire, in the form of V's, which are always

Jan 1, 1930

By Rossiter Raymond

IT is scarcely necessary to augment or amend the "Appreciation" of Dr. Douglas, from the pen of Dr. Albert A. Ledoux, which appeared in January, 1916, in Bulletin -No. -109 of the Institute. The author of that admirable summary enjoyed the great privilege of expressing while Dr. Douglas was yet among us (though already marked for death) the love and esteem with which we all regarded him. But now that his earthly life has ended, the historian must still be the eulogist. No line need be added or deleted in the portrait of him already drawn; it has only to be accepted now as a true likeness, and hung in the gallery of the immortals, illuminated' by the crowning glory of another world. . James Douglas was born at Quebec, Canada, November 4, 18:37. His father, James Douglas, was a distinguished physician and surgeon, known in many lands, especially in the Orient, and famous in his own country for his philanthropy as well as his skill, having established and directed for many years the first retreat for the insane in the Dominion of Canada. One of the latest literary labors of the son was the editing and publishing of his father's journal and reminiscences-a fascinating volume, the review of which, though a tempting task, I must here forego. Nearly fifty years ago, I had the great pleasure of spending an hour with the elder. Douglas, who guided me through his collection of Egyptian and Asiatic treasures. I might almost say souvenirs; so many of them were connected with personal experiences and exalted personages. The veteran's memory had already begun to fail with age, but his vivacity and imagination glowed all the, more brightly; and his reminiscences of travel and adventure were embroidered with Oriental magnificence. I felt, after that hour, as if I had visited a stately, half-ruined edifice, overgrown with vines and flowers. The father's genius, adventurous spirit and generous philanthropy descended to his versatile, yet practical son. Like other men of such temperament, James Douglas tried many things before circumstances beyond his own control forced him into the line of his, principal lifework. At the age of 18, he was sent to the University of Edinburgh, where he studied for two years. Returning to Canada,, he entered Queen's University, at Kingston, Ontario, where he was graduated as Bachelor of Arts in 1858. Subsequently he studied medicine at Laval University, Quebec;

Jan 9, 1918

By George Harrington

THIS paper is a brief description of the design and equipment of a new coal mine in southern Illinois, which has many features not common practice in shaft coal mining and which is laid out and equipped for such unusually large capacity that it promises soon to become one of the largest mining operations of its kind. Shaft sinking for the mine, New Orient, was commenced in May, 1921, by the Chicago, Wilmington & Franklin Coal Co. In October, 1924, the plant was practically completed and was producing over 6000 tons of coal per day. There is good prospect that within a few years, when the mine is fully developed and manned, the output will attain a daily rate of 12,000 tons. The coal seam at New Orient lies approximately horizontal, about 500 ft. below the surface, and may be said to run from 9 to 12 ft. in thickness. The tendency in Franklin County has been toward large mining units (5000 to 6000 tons per day) with great care being given to protection against fire and explosion hazards, and usually with quite elaborate surface plants permitting careful preparation of the coal into graded sizes comparable with those made in the anthracite region. The field is unionized, with uniform conditions of wages for various classes of work, hours, etc., and the Illinois mining laws are quite specific with regard to fireproofing and safety measures. These conditions make it difficult for any but well-equipped and well-operated mines to meet the competition of the numerous fine properties of which this county can justly be proud. The coal company's property was already developed on the western side by the Orient. mine-a much visited and written about operation (with which many of you are possibly familiar through the Department of Mines' film "The Story of Coal ") which until recently held the 8-hr. production record with 8218 tons and usually ran quite consistently with production of slightly over 6000 tons per day. Experience at Orient was naturally one of the greatest influences in determining the location and character of the New Orient.

Jan 2, 1925

By W. Spencer Hutchinson

THE relative importance of mineral production in British South Africa is about as follows: Gold, $200,000,000; diamonds, $40,000,000; coal, $18,-000,000; asbestos; $3,000,000; chrome ore, $2,000,000. In 1926 the gold mines paid $42,000,000 in dividends, the diamond mines $13,000,000, coal nearly $3,000,000, others less than $500,000. The recorded history of South Africa starts with the visits of the Dutch and the English in the sixteenth century, followed by the settlement of Cape Colony by the Dutch East India Company in 1651: The English acquired Capetown in 1806 and conflicts between English and Boers were a part of the history, from that, time on. Transvaal was settled in 1835, following the Great Boer Trek. The mining of diamonds became im-portant in 1870; the production of gold from the Rand in 1890;' the export of chrome ore in 1910; and the dis-covery of platinum in 1925. South Africa has a race problem, resulting not alone from the disparity of numbers between whites and natives, more than seven blacks to each white, twenty to one in Southern Rhodesia, and three. hundred to one in Northern Rhodesia; but because of the division of the white race between English and Cape Dutch or Afrikaans. The natives are also of many tribes.

Jan 6, 1927

By Arthur F. Wendt

Introduction.—In the year 1885, the writer signed a contract to take charge of the reopening and developing of the celebrated old mines of " El Cerro Rico de Potosi." Two years earlier, an Eng- . lish firm of engineers had made a very glowing report on the property. In the summer of 1885, telegrams arrived from the parties in charge of operations at the mountain, claiming the finding of one of the old veins, with an average richness of over 200 ounces to the ton. In the fall of 1886, the author first personally visited Potosi, but found neither the English report nor the telegram borne out by the facts. After an expenditure of over half a million of dollars and more than three years of continuons hard work, the writer succeeded in unwatering and developing one of the principal old veins of the mountain. This vein, called "Cotamitos," now yields ores of about 75 ounces to the ton, and the old historic mountains of Potosi may be said to have again fairly entered the list of silver-producers. The experience of the author, during his residence in Bolivia, and data obtained from Sr. Don F. Avelino Aramayo, form the basis of this description. POTOSI. Etymology of the Name.—The Quichuá (pronounced Keechna) Indians, known to North American students as the " Incas," although the word "inca" merely signifies ''king," or "chief," of the Quichuás, called the mountain "Sumac-orcko," or the beautiful mountain." Eighty-three years before the discovery of the mountain by the Spaniards, the inca, or king, Huaina Ccapac, travelling from Cantumarca to Calque-Porco, saw the mountain of Potosf and, admiring its grandeur and beauty, said that within its bowels there was, no doubt, much silver. He ordered his vassal* to work the mines. They, having carried their mining implements to the mountain, ascended it and were on the point of commencing work, when they heard a voice of thunder, which said: " Do not take

Jan 1, 1891

By William H. Waggaman

CURTAILMENT of the mineral industry as a whole undoubtedly will follow world peace, but the output of certain minerals should pursue a course well above the average on any curve of probable output projected beyond the trends exhibited through 1939. Without speculating on industrial conditions in the pending recomversion period, demand for fluorspar should be greater than before the war because of these factors, introduced by or resulting directly from military necessity: (1) Discovery and development of new deposits. (2) Improved technology in benefication. (3) New and expanded uses for fluorspar and its derivatives. The steel industry has been and continues to be the greatest consumer of fluorspar, and it wag largely to meet the wartime needs for steel that the domestic fluorspar industry has been expanded so greatly. Not only were the search for and development of new deposits of this mineral considered esstinal but the marginal nature of some of the,c- domestic deposits made it necessary to improve mineral dressinc and processing techniques to utilize them

Jan 1, 1945

By G. M. Lee

SEVERAL improvements have been made in Granby smelting practice since the company abandoned the direct smelting of raw ore in the blast furnaces in June, 1927, in favor of sintered concentrate. These improvements have been made in several fields, but the most novel and outstanding change was the development of a process of concentrating most of the gold, and a somewhat smaller fraction of the silver present, in a small portion of the blister copper produced. The practice of making "copper bottoms" is usually associated with the reverberatory smelting of copper ores containing high percentages of impurities, or of copper matte high in precious metals. It has for its object, in the one case, the production of a major part of the copper relatively free from impurities and, in the other case, the production of a small per¬centage of the copper carrying the major part of the precious metals. Although the blister copper produced at the Anyox plant of the Granby company is remarkably free from deleterious impurities and normally contains no great amount of precious metals, certain economic considerations made it advisable to concentrate the existing precious metals into a relatively small percentage of the blister copper produced. The process devised took advantage of principles and reactions of the usual bottoms processes, but was carried out in the converters instead of in a reverberatory furnace.

Jan 1, 1935

One of the results of the work of the Committee on Precious and Base Metals is that the present Bulletin is as large as some of. the annual volumes of Transactions of the Institute, and we extend our. compliments and thanks to the Committee and express to the members thereof and to. the authors, who have so bounteously given of their time and information, the. sincere gratitude of the Institute. In order to get all these papers printed and distributed to the membership in advance of the meeting, it was necessary to divide the work between two printers. This accounts for the discrepancy in the pagination of the Bulletin; and we also ask the indulgence of our readers in case errors have crept into this preliminary edition during the period of unusual pressure. Program of the Butte Meeting.-The program of the Butte meeting will include six technical sessions for the presentation and discussion of papers and five half-clay visits to mines and metallurgical works. The following program is practically in final form, with slight additions which may be necessary later. Every effort will be made to have papers presented and discussed on scheduled time, so that members who are unable to attend the entire meeting may so plan their trip as to hear and discuss papers in which they are especially interested.

Jan 8, 1913

By C. W. Davis

THE name fuller's earth, which was derived from its early use in "fulling" or removing grease from woolen goods, is a term that is generally considered to designate mineral matter, containing hydrous aluminum silicates of the clay group, which has a high capacity for removing colors from oils, whether of animal, vegetable, or mineral origin. Fuller's earths are usually dried and may be "tempered" by heating or may be treated with water or reagents to improve their efficiency. For our purpose the term "acid-treated earths" will include those products from the partial decomposition of mineral water -by acid which are equal to or more efficient than an untreated fuller's earth from Quincy, Fla., when used in bleaching mineral oil by the "contact" process. In general, the contact process for treating oils consists of heating and agitating a mixture of oil and finely divided adsorbent, the latter being subsequently removed by filtration. The term "adsorbent" is used because, although there has been a great deal of controversy over the mechanism of removal of impurities from oils by mineral matter, there is no doubt that adsorption, which involves the surface of the solid, plays a major part.1 The properties that make fuller's earth useful in the treatment of petroleum products by "percolation" and in the purification of edible oils by the contact process have long been studied, but the comparatively recent adaptation of the contact process to the bleaching of petroleum products has made desirable the further investigation of fuller's earth and other, adsorbent earths.

Jan 1, 1929

By C. C. Griggs

From its inception, a limestone quarry or mine should be under the direction of a capable engineer. Before it becomes a reality, he should outlinc the future results, plan the most economical methods for moving the materials and the most efficient equipment, and pilot the undertaking along the narrow pathway of success, avoiding the pitfalls of uneconomical production and the precipitous walls of scanty profits. Inspection of successful limestone properties shows that all have had difficult engineering problems, the solution of which have required keen engineering ability. In approaching a subject of this nature, it is logical to follow the progress of the limestone operation from its inception to the end, as reflecting the engineering required. There are four major divisions: Investigation, equipment, development, and operation. Investigation On the reliability of the engineer's estimates and the soundness of his judgment depend the success or failure of the enterprise. When one visits a prosperous concern, realizes that the limestone is of a constant chemical composition, sees the mechanical devices installed, and watches the output leave the plant in trains of railroad cars or fleets of vessels, he may overlook the fact that in the remote past this great creation was born in some man's brain and evolved through competent engineering. Many factors must be considered before a promoter could procure the money necessary to launch such an enterprise, for a conservative banker will only recommend a successful producer while the promoter must provide funds on his own and his engineer's judgment. An engineering investigation must be made preliminary to expenditure for actual operation, which, for a limestone deposit, would' naturally embrace such subjects as : ' Readily available. 1. Tonnage available........ Possibly available. Chemical analysis.

Jan 1, 1925

By Frank Firmstone

In the summer of 1842 my father, William Firmstone, was engaged by Charles Jackson, Jr., of Boston, to examine the conditions in the Lehigh valley as a site for blast-furnaces using anthracite for fuel. In consequence of his report, he was further engaged by Mr. Jackson to build a furnace for him and his partners on the Lehigh canal, 2 miles above the mouth of the river at Easton. Work was begun in the fall of 1842, and the first furnace blown-in in 1844. The history of the works, therefore, from 1844 to 1887, when my own connection with them ceased, covers only four years less than the whole period of the rise, culmination, and commencement of the decline in the smelting of iron with anthracite in America, the beginning of which, in a commercial sense, may be put in 1839.' Although this paper, as the title indicates, is concerned almost exclusively with the furnaces at Glendon, still what was done there was more or less influenced by current opinion in the district, and even reflects, to some extent, the changes in opinion and practice with mineral fuel the world over. No. 1 Furnace was built of red brick, on four piers, had three tuyeres and fore-hearth and tymp, as was universal with furnaces using mineral fuel until the introduction of Lurmann's cinder-tuyere. The dimensions and profile are shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The first hearth (Fig. 1) was of sandstone; all after were of fire-brick (Fig. 2). The profile was no doubt derived directly from Gibbons's furnace,2 for it appears from W. Firmstone's note-books that in October, 1840, he visited " Gibbons' new furnaces building at Corbyn Hall," and I have an old drawing,

Jan 1, 1910

By E. S. Moore

The Kolar gold field has been for a long time the most important gold-producing area of India. It is situated in the Skate of Mysore, southern India, and not far from the City of Bangalore. The productive field is about 3 miles long and in it a gold-bearing quartz vein varying in width from 1 in. to over 10 ft. is worked. The vein carries high values to great depths and many of the mines have paid large dividends. Geological Formations In KolaR Region The rocks of the Kolar region are pre-Cambrian in age and bear a close resemblance to some of the pre-Cambrian formations of America. The oldest rocks seen are basic lavas, now mostly altered to hornblende-schists, with which is associated some banded iron-formation; these rocks are similar to the Keewatin schists and iron-formation in the Lake Superior region. The schist is cut by the gold-bearing quartz vein. In certain parts of the area there is also a conglomerate containing pebbles of granite, jasper, and schist. The matrix resembles a hornblende-schist and is intruded by small granite dikes, which in some cases have been pinched off by squeezing of the rock. This has led Dr. W. I?. Smeeth, Chief Inspector of Mines of Mysore, to whom the writer is greatly indebted for information regarding this area and for his hospitality while visiting the field, to regard this conglomerate as a breccia due to crushing of granite dikes in the schist. Dr. J. W. Evans has regarded the conglomerate as probably a squeezed glacial boulder clay. From analogy with pre-Cambrian conglomerates in America, the writer regards it as a metamorphosed rock similar to our basal Huronian conglomerate. However, the main bearing which it has upon the problem under discussion is the apparent fact that it is younger than the schist and that it indicates the presence of a syncline in the rocks cut by the quartz vein. Surrounding the area of schist and conglomerate is a large mass of granite-gneiss resembling the Laurentian gneiss of the Lake Superior region. Still later than the rocks mentioned above are basic intrusions which cut the quartz and schists; in the mines these are known as trap. One dike of this type is 50 to 60 yd. wide.

Jan 1, 1920

By H. C. Jennison

Two distinct types of defects occur at times in copper wire as a result of the use of dies of improper design or undesirable wire-drawing practice. The conditions under which these defects may be produced, as well as precautions to be taken in order to prevent them, have been known to The American Brass Co. for many years. The quality of the copper wire bars and rods has too often and unjustly been held responsible for these particular defects and it is to correct any such belief that this paper is presented. An extremely high quality of electrolytic copper has been supplied to the trade by all refineries for the last 20 years at least. The purity of the copper would average well above 99.900 per cent. The casting of the wire bars has been handled in a generally satisfactory manner. The bars have been cast sound, with a flat to slightly crowning set and have been free from sloppy edges, cold sets, etc. In other words, the wire bars have met A. S. T. M. specifications and have been generally satisfactory. For the most part, they have been everything that could be desired from a quality standpoint yet most of the wire mills in this country and in Europe have at times held the quality of the copper responsible for the two types of defects described in this paper. As a matter of fact, these defects are produced entirely in the wire mills. The author has visited many of the large wire mills in the United States and in Europe to investigate these defects. In some cases the trouble has been so serious that the wire mill has ceased operations. At times the wire mills are reluctant to believe that they are responsible for the defective product. The effect of die design, wire-drawing practice, etc., upon the quality of copper wire has received' little study on the part of wire mills, particularly those that have commenced operations in the last few years.

Jan 1, 1930

By George Rice

TEN years ago, October, 1914, the author had the privilege of giving an-illustrated address on investigations of coal-dust explosions1 to this Institute at one session of its fall meeting in Pittsburgh, Pa. On the following day, the members had the opportunity of seeing a large-scale explosion test at the Experimental Mine near Bruceton, in which the explosion was made to follow a predetermined path by means of rock-dust barriers of various types, which had prevented the explosive waves from reaching the outlets of, the mine by the shortest paths.2 There was also shown a "home-made rock-dusting machine discharging the dust from a flexible nozzle, and a cement gun operated for the quick erection of a fire or ventilation stopping, such as might be put up after an explosion. Following that paper, there was presented a paper by J. Taffanel, Director of the Lievin testing station in the Pas de Calais, which reviewed the French coal-dust investigations.3 Another important paper was by Howard N. Eavenson, on Coal-mine Explosions Caused by Gas or Dust.4 This paper contains complete lists of explosions that occurred in North America and Great Britain, from early in the 19th century to 1912; in France to 1903, and in Belgium to 1909. No one can look over these lists without being struck by the great number of explosions and the, appalling aggregate of lives lost by them. Although they still happen, we-are hopeful that we have entered on a happier period of freedom from these dreaded visitations, as the result of great increase in knowledge; of the causes and means of prevention. Looking back over coal-dust investigations, there appear to have been periods of advance and of stagnation.

Jan 3, 1925

By A. W. Hesse

TWELVE years ago, a meeting of coal-mine operators, mining engineers, oil and gas operators, Bureau of Mines engineers, geologists and state mine inspectors took place in Pittsburgh, Pa. for the purpose of discussing, and solving if possible, the problems in connection with the drilling of oil and gas wells through or near coal mines and through the future coal reserves. Proposed regulations were drafted and presented at that meeting by 0. P. Hood and A. G. Heggem of the Bureau of Mines.1There was considerable discussion of the various articles, practically all of which appear in Bulletin 65, but unfortunately the interest aroused at that meeting was short lived. Practically none of the important coal-, producing states gave the matter the consideration it should have received at that time. REASONS FOR AGAIN RAISING THE QUESTION Notwithstanding the marked progress in, safety work, coal mines still have an unenviable reputation for mine explosions. Our mining laws have become stricter and the enforcement, especially in Pennsylvania, more sternly carried out, but what good will come from a rigid carrying out of the mining laws if some source of danger exists all around the mines, over which the operators have no control? It is hardly necessary to recite all the cases of natural-gas explosions published in Bulletin 65, but with some of them I am especially familiar. In 1912, while making one of my usual Sunday visits to the Miners' Hospital, at Fairmont, W. Va., my attention was called to a patient in a horribly burned condition. He was swathed in bandages so that no part of his face and hands were visible. He had not then been informed that his two sons, mere boys, had died of the burns they had received in the same accident. This explosion was due to natural gas leaking into a country mine at Peora, Harrison Co., W. Va.

Jan 2, 1925

By George W. Maynard

For an account of the discovery and the determination of chromite on Port au Port Bay I am indebted to Mr. Obalski, Government mining engineer for the Province of Quebec. He writes: " In June, 1894, with the authorization of our Government, I went to Newfoundland to examine some asbestos property. Passing through Halifax, I had interviews with some gentlemen who told me that besides the asbestos there was in the same district a big deposit of iron-ore. They handed me some specimens, and, after ascertaining that they were not magnetic, and learning that they were found in serpentine, I said they were chromic iron. I visited the place on June 27, 1894, and confirmed my opinion, pointing out at the same time the importance of the deposit, as appears in my report of July 9, 1894. I do not claim any credit for the discovery of chrome-ore in Newfoundland; but, as a matter of fact. when I came in contact with the Halifax gentlemen they did not appear to know the nature or the value of the mineral until I mentioned to them that it was chromite. "' Mr. Obalski's report was mainly devoted to the asbestos-deposits. That portion relating to the chromite was as follows: " On the right side of the creek there is a show of chromic iron of good quality, which appears scattered through the serpentine in several places on the face of the cliff for 40 to 50 feet. A few boulders are found farther up at a distance of 100 feet, and also in the ckeek itself. From this point the deposit exists on a relatively large area, the widest exposures being from 6 to 7 feet. Chromic iron deposits in serpentine rock have no regularity, and are merely pockets. In the case of the property in question this rule is not changed, but the pockets look to be of large extent, and could be easily worked." My own preliminary investigation of the property was made

Jan 1, 1898

By Waldemar Lindgren, Clyde P. Ross

To the miner, as well as to the geologist, the eastern part of Cuba is a most interesting region. Here we find, in contrast to the moderate relief predominating elsewhere in the island, an imposing mountain range, the Sierra Maestra, extending east and west parallel to the coast, its precipitous front facing the blue Caribbean Sea. In a geological sense this range is largely an unknown land, the only well-explored region being that in the vicinity of Santiago. The range also contains the most important mineral deposits of the island. They comprise, first, a series of iron deposits yielding a partly hematitized magnetite with low content of phosphorus; second, a remarkable copper-bearing vein at El Cobre; and third, various manganese deposits. Probably more deposits will be found, for the larger and western part of the range is as yet little explored and its slopes are covered by a thick tropical jungle. The following notes are based on a short visit by the senior author in January and February of 1914 to the mines at Daiquiri, El Cobre, and Mayari. For many courtesies and great assistance he is deeply obliged to Charles F. Rand, President of the Spanish-American Iron CO.; to George W. Pfeiffer, General Manager, and to the several members of his staff. Geological Features of the Sierra Maestra For our knowledge of the geology of the Sierra Maestra we are indebted to reconnaissance work by Fernandez de Castro, R. T. Hill, Mr. C. Hayes, T. W. Vaughan, and A. C. Spencer. The summary by the latter three geologists furnishes the best guide to the region.' The range is undoubtedly outlined by a great east-west dislocation. Its southern slope drops abruptly to the sea, while on the north side a much gentler declivity leads down to the rolling plateau of Tertiary limestone which occupies much of the adjacent part of the island. Viewed

Jan 1, 1916