Scenes and Adventures in the Semi-Alpine Region of the Ozark Mountains of Missouri and Arkansas Part 11

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE MINES.

The rage for adventure, which the brilliant exploits of Cortez, Pizarro, and other Spanish adventurers, had excited throughout Europe, continued for a long time to agitate the public mind, and had not abated at the commencement of the eighteenth century, when an idea of the mineral riches of Louisiana had become prevalent. Gold and silver were then the chief objects which engrossed attention; and in search of them, the earliest discoverers were led to penetrate into the interior. The physical aspect of the country was in general such as to flatter the most sanguine expectations of mineral wealth; and the further the country became known, the more interesting was found its mineralogical character. To men whose preconceived ideas of a country were already high, such appearances must have had the most inspiriting effect, and lightened the embarra.s.sments they encountered in exploring a wilderness.

Many of the useful metals were thus met with, and gold and silver mines were reported to have been discovered in several places. Red river, the Arkansas, and the river La Platte of the Missouri, were particularly mentioned; and from the evidence which is afforded by the discovery of ancient furnaces, &c., there is reason to conclude that those metals were wrought at a very early period. Judging from appearances, they were ready to conclude the country exhaustless in mines; and the most exaggerated accounts of them appear to have been transmitted to Europe, particularly to France, where a lively interest was felt in the prosperity of the infant colonies in Louisiana and Illinois; and in the descriptions published at that day, the lands are reputed to equal in fertility the banks of the Nile, and the mountains to vie with the wealth of Peru.

It was in this supposition of the immense wealth of Louisiana, both in the vegetable and mineral kingdoms, that the renowned Mississippi scheme originated, which, from the imposing character it was made to a.s.sume under the guidance and direction of M. Law, drew upon it the eyes, not only of France, but of all Europe, and produced one of the most memorable disappointments recorded in the annals of commercial speculation.

Louis XIV., by letters patent, bearing date September 14th, A. D. 1712, granted to Anthony Crozat, Counsellor of State, Secretary of the Household, &c., the exclusive privilege of commerce of that district of country, now known as the States of Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Illinois, and the Territories of Missouri and Arkansas, with the proprietary right of the mines and minerals he should discover in the country, reserving the fifth part of all bullion of gold and silver, and the one-tenth of the produce of all other mines. The exclusive privilege of commerce was granted for a term of fifteen years; but the right of the mines was conveyed in perpetuity to him and his heirs, on the condition that such mines and minerals should revert back to the crown of France, whenever the working of them was discontinued for three years together. The bounds of Louisiana, as granted to Crozat, are described in these words: "Bounded by New Mexico, (on the west,) and by the lands of the English of Carolina, (on the east,) including all the establishments, ports, havens, rivers, and princ.i.p.ally the port and haven of the Isle of Dauphine, heretofore called Ma.s.saere; the river of St. Louis, heretofore called Mississippi, from the edge of the sea as far as the Illinois; together with the river of St. Philip, heretofore called Ouabache (Wabash); with all the countries, territories, lakes within land, and the rivers which fall directly or indirectly into that part of the river of St. Louis."

In the month of August, A. D. 1717, M. Crozat solicited permission to retrocede to the crown his privilege of the exclusive commerce and the mines of Louisiana, which was granted by an arret of the Council of State, during the minority of Louis XV. In the same month, letters patent were granted by the Council of the Regency to an a.s.sociation of individuals at Paris, under the name of "The Company of the West," by which they were invested with the exclusive privilege of the commerce of Louisiana, and the working of the mines, to the same extent as it was enjoyed under the grant of Crozat. These letters patent were dated on the 23d of August, A. D. 1717, registered 6th September of the same year, and were to be in force on the 1st of January, 1718, and to continue for a period of twenty-five years. By them, not only such grants and privileges were conveyed as had previously been enjoyed by Crozat; but they were invested with additional powers, rights, and privileges. The territory was granted in free allodium, (_en franc allieu_,) in lords.h.i.+p and injustice, the crown reserving to itself no other rights or duties but those of fealty and liege homage, which the company was required to pay to the king, and to his successors at each mutation of kings, with a crown of gold of the weight of thirty marks.

The boundaries were the same as described in the grant to Crozat; and the mines and mining grounds, opened or discovered during the term of its privilege, were declared to belong to the company incommutably, without being holden to pay any rents or proceeds whatever. The company was also invested with the right to sell and alienate the lands of its concession, at whatever price or rents they might fix, and even to grant them _en franc allieu_, without reserving the rights of justice or lords.h.i.+p. It was also provided, that if, after the expiration of the twenty-five years for which the exclusive privilege of commerce was granted, the king should not see proper to continue the privilege by a new grant, all the lands and islands, mines, and mining grounds, which the Company of the West should have inhabited, worked, improved, or disposed of on rent, or any valuable consideration whatever, should remain to it for ever in fee simple, to use and dispose of as a proper inheritance, on the simple condition that the company should never sell such lands to any other than the subjects of France.

A company incorporated with such ample rights and privileges, did not fail to draw upon it the attention of the speculative, or to enlist the aid of the enterprising capitalists of the French metropolis. The country of the Illinois was reputed rich beyond comparison: the financial estimates submitted to the view of the public, offered prospects of unusual gain, and capitalists flocked with avidity from all quarters to enrol themselves as members of the company, and partake of the promised wealth. If anything had been wanting to accelerate the pace of adventurers, or to fan the ardor of hope, it was the genius, the financial abilities, and the commanding influence of M. Law, who was placed at the head of the company, and was the moving power in every transaction. Hence, it is no subject for surprise that the most extravagant antic.i.p.ations were entertained by the members of the Company of the West, or that the unusual splendor of the Mississippi scheme was only equalled by the signal disappointment in which it eventuated.

In the year after the Company of the West had been inst.i.tuted by the royal patent of the king, they formed an establishment in the country of the Illinois, at fort Chartres; and in order to promote the objects of their inst.i.tution, and to encourage the settlement of the country, held out the most liberal inducements to French emigrants, and made them donations of all lands which they should cultivate or improve. Miners and mechanics were also encouraged to emigrate; and the city of New Orleans, which had been founded during the last year of the authority of Crozat (1717), received a considerable accession to its population in the fall of the same year, and settlements began to extend along the banks of the Mississippi, and in the country of the Illinois.

Among the number of adventurers to Illinois, was Philip Francis Renault, (the son of Philip Renault, a noted iron-founder at Consobre, near to Mauberge, in France,) who came over as the agent of the Company of St.

Phillips, an a.s.sociation of individuals which had been formed under the patronage of the western company, for prosecuting the mining business in the upper country of Louisiana and Illinois. It appears also that he was a member of the Company of the West, and he is spoken of as "Director-General of the mines of the Royal Company in Illinois;" a name by which not only the present State of Illinois, but a vast district of the adjoining country, appears then to have been known.

Renault left France in the year 1719, with two hundred artificers and miners, provided with tools, and whatever else was necessary for carrying the objects of the company into effect. In his pa.s.sage he touched at the island of St. Domingo, and purchased five hundred slaves for working the mines; and, entering the Mississippi, pursued his voyage up that river to New Orleans, which he reached some time in the year 1720, and soon afterwards proceeded on his way to Kaskaskia, in Illinois. Kaskaskia was then inhabited solely by the French, and was one of the earliest posts occupied by them when they began to extend themselves from Canada, along the great western lakes, and down the Ohio and Mississippi. Renault established himself in the vicinity of this town, near fort Chartres, at a spot which he named St. Phillips, (now called the Little Village,) and from this sent out his mining and exploring parties into various sections of Illinois and Louisiana. These parties were either headed by himself, or by M. La Motte; an agent versed in the knowledge of minerals, whom he had brought over with him.

In one of the earliest of these excursions La Motte discovered the lead-mines on the St. Francis, which bear his name; and, at a subsequent period, Renault made the discovery of those extensive mines north of Potosi, which continue to be called after him. Other mines of lead were also found, but their distinctive appellations have not survived; and a proof of the diligence with which Renault prosecuted the object, is furnished by the number and extent of the old diggings which are yet found in various parts of the country. These diggings are scattered over the whole mine country; and hardly a season pa.s.ses, in which some antique works, overgrown with brush and trees, are not found.

Renault, being probably disappointed in the high expectations he had formed of finding gold and silver, turned his whole force towards the smelting of lead; and there is reason to conclude that very great quant.i.ties were made. It was conveyed from the interior on pack-horses (the only mode of transportation which was practicable at that early period). The lead made by Renault was sent to New Orleans, and thence chiefly s.h.i.+pped for France. That he also discovered copper, is probable, as a grant of land made to him at Old Peoria, on the Illinois river, embraces a copper-mine.

Renault's operations were, however, r.e.t.a.r.ded and checked, from a quarter where it was least expected. By an edict of the king, made at Paris, in May, 1719, the Company of the West was united to the East India and Chinese Company, under the t.i.tle of the Company Royal of the Indies (_La Compagnie Royale des Indies_). And in 1731, the whole territory was retroceded to the crown of France, the objects of the company having totally failed; and Renault was left in America, without the means of prosecuting the s.h.i.+ning business. His exertions in behalf of the company were not, however, overlooked by the government, and four several grants of land were made to him in consideration of his services. These grants bear date June 14th, A. D. 1723, and cover the Mine La Motte, and some other very valuable tracts, which, after having laid dormant for a period of about sixty years, have recently been claimed by the representatives of his heirs-at-law.

Renault, however, remained in Illinois several years after the explosion of the Mississippi scheme, and did not return to his native country until 1742. With him the greater part of his workmen returned; the slaves were sold, and the mining business fell into neglect. Here is a period to the first attempt at mining in Louisiana. The country was ceded to Spain in 1762, and taken possession of in 1769.

After Renault's departure, little or nothing appears to have been done in the way of mining; and, even after the Spanish had taken possession of the country, the lead-mines were but little attended to. The force which Renault had with him was sufficient to protect him from the attacks of the savages; but, after his departure, the settlements on the Mississippi, feeble in themselves, could not furnish protection to such as might be disposed to work at the mines. The Spanish, however, in a few years after taking possession of the country, did something; and in process of time new discoveries were made, and the mining business began to a.s.sume a more respectable character. The princ.i.p.al discovery made under the Spanish authority was that of Mine a Burton, which takes its name from a person of the name of Burton, or Le Breton,[12] who, being out on a hunt in that quarter, found the ore lying on the surface of the ground. This man, who is still living in the vicinity of St.

Genevieve, at the advanced age of one hundred and nine years, had been employed while a youth under Renault. The period of this discovery it would be very difficult now to ascertain, Burton himself being unable to fix it. It has probably been known about forty years.

The processes of mining pursued under the Spanish government appear to have been very rude and imperfect, not more than fifty per cent. of lead being got from the ore. The common open log furnace was the only one employed, and the lead-ashes were thrown by as useless.

In 1797, Moses Austin, Esq., performed a journey from the lead-mines in Wythe county, Virginia, to the Mine a Burton, in Louisiana, and obtained a grant of land one league square, from the Spanish authorities, in consideration of erecting a reverberatory furnace, and other works, for prosecuting the mining business at those mines. This he commenced in 1798, previous to which time no furnace for smelting the ashes of lead had been erected. Mr. Austin sunk the first regular shaft for raising the ore, and introduced some other improvements which were found beneficial. He also, in 1799, erected a shot-tower, in which patent shot of an approved quality were made. A manufactory of sheet-lead was completed during the same year, and the Spanish a.r.s.enals at New Orleans and Havana drew a considerable part of the supplies for their navy from this source.

About this time, a few other American families crossed over into Louisiana Territory, and settled in the neighborhood of the mines.

These, from their more enlightened and enterprising spirit, were an acquisition to the mining interest; and as their earliest attention was directed to it, the lead business began to revive; and at the time the Territory was taken possession of by the United States, the mines were extensively and advantageously worked.[13] The Mine a Robino, Mine a Martin, and many others, were shortly afterwards discovered. Since the year 1804, the number of mines has been astonis.h.i.+ngly multiplied; s.h.i.+bboleth, New Diggings, Lebaum's, and Bryan's mines, are among the latest discoveries of consequence.

The lead-mines did not fail to attract the earliest attention of the American government; and, immediately after the occupation of the Territory, measures were taken to ascertain their situation, the method of working them, &c. Several laws have since been enacted on the subject, and a reservation made of all discoveries upon public lands.

The emigration to Louisiana, which had partially commenced under the Spanish government, took a more decided character after the cession of the country to the United States, but has been particularly great within the last few years.

In 1812, that part of Louisiana bordering on the gulf of Mexico, including New Orleans, and extending up the Mississippi to 33 north lat.i.tude, was erected into a State under the name of Louisiana, and the remainder formed into a territorial government by the name of Missouri.

There is a pet.i.tion now before Congress (Feb. 1819) for the admission of Missouri into the Union on a footing with the original States. By this pet.i.tion it is contemplated that White river will form the southern boundary; and the country between that and the northern line of Louisiana, including our claims on the Spanish, will be erected into a territorial government, under the name of Arkansas.[14]

Respecting the present state of the lead-mines, it is only necessary here to add, that they are worked in a more improved manner than at any former period; that they are more extensive than when the country came into the hands of the United States, and of course give employment to a greater number of miners, while every season is adding to the number of mines; and that the ores may be considered of the richest kind. Every day is developing to us the resources of this country in minerals, and particularly in lead; and we cannot resist the belief that, in riches and extent, the mines of Missouri are paralleled by no other mineral district. In working the mines, in raising and smelting the ore, and in the establishment of the different manufactures dependent upon it, there is much to be done. Though the processes now pursued are greatly superior to those in use under the French and Spanish governments, there is still ample room for improvement. The earth has not yet been penetrated over eighty feet! We know not what may be found in the lower strata of the soil. There is reason to believe that the main bodies of ore have not yet been hit upon; that they lie deeper, and that we have thus far only been engaged upon the spurs and detached ma.s.ses. There is also reason to believe that bodies of the ores of zinc exist in the district of the mines, and that copper will be afforded by the lower strata of earth. It is found overlaid by lead-ores in many of the European mines; and the geognostic character of the country leads us to conclude that it may also be found here.

The want of capitalists in the mine country, and of practical skill in the boring, blasting, sinking shafts and galleries, oppose obstacles to the successful progress of mining. There is but one regular hearth-furnace for smelting in the whole district; and that is on the modern plan of English furnaces. There are not over four or five regular shafts in about forty mines; there is not an engine, either by horse, steam, or water power, for removing water from the mines, several of which have been abandoned on this account, with rich prospects of ore in view. In fine, there is little of that system which characterizes the best-conducted European mines, and which, by an application of the most recent discoveries in mechanics, chemistry, and philosophy, render them the admiration of every intelligent visiter. Should the subject attract the attention of mining capitalists, the circ.u.mstance would form a new era in the history of the mining operations of this country. Something also remains to be done by the government; the existing laws are inadequate to the purposes for which they were enacted. That feature restricting leases to three years, is injudicious; the period is so short, that it deters those who are most able from engaging in it at all. It is desirable that such a system should be established as would indicate the annual produce of the mines, number of hands employed, and such other facts as are necessary in forming a series of statistical tables on the subject. The want of such data has. .h.i.therto prevented us from properly estimating the importance of the mines in a national point of view. The acquisition of a scientific knowledge of minerals should also be facilitated in this quarter. There should be a mineralogical school located in the country, where students might be instructed in that useful science. In a country so rich in minerals, and whose wealth will always so much depend upon a proper development of these resources, the knowledge of mineralogy should be laid open to every one, and should be within the reach of such as do not wish, or cannot get, the other branches of a liberal education. To obtain this knowledge now, a person would be compelled to travel to remote parts of the Union, and to incur an unreasonable expense. No one who is conversant with the advantages which Germany has derived from such a seminary, will deny the utility of a similar one in the United States.

Yet, with all the disadvantages under which the lead-mines have been viewed, there are many who may be surprised to find their annual products, from the best information, stated at three millions of pounds; and from this some idea may be formed of their riches and extent, and, when they come to be properly and regularly worked, how greatly they will contribute to the national wealth.[15]

SECTION II.

TOPOGRAPHICAL AND GEOLOGICAL OUTLINE OF THE MINE COUNTRY.

The district of country formerly known as the lead-mines of Louisiana, extends from the head waters of the St. Francis, in a north-west direction, to the Maramec, a distance of seventy miles, by about forty-five in width, having the Mississippi on its eastern borders. It is included, very nearly, between 37 and 38 north lat.i.tude, and comprises an area of about three thousand square miles. Most of the mines are situated within a circle of this general area, of which Potosi and Mine a Burton const.i.tute a centre.

The rock formation of the country appears to be simple and uniform. At the lowest depths observed in valleys, there is a crystalline sandstone, which often consists of transparent quartzose grains, adhering by the force of aggregation. The lead-bearing limestone reposes upon this. Both formations are deposited in perfectly horizontal strata. Valleys which carry streams have been worn down into this formation, presenting this order of arrangement very satisfactorily. A stratum of red, marly clay, spreads over the limestone. Above this, const.i.tuting the top layer, or surface soil, rests a bed of diluvial materials, filled with broken-down fragments of rock, ma.s.ses of radiated quartz, and chips of hornstone.

Vegetable matter and black sand form a covering over such parts of this diluvial deposit as const.i.tute valleys and agricultural plains. The Mississippi river lays open this formation along its western banks, from the influx of the Missouri to Cape Girardeau.

Beneath this metalliferous column lie the primitive rocks. The most striking feature of this kind is found in the occurrence of a primitive formation at the sources of the river St. Francis. My attention was arrested by this fact, soon after I began to examine the mine country.

This formation consists of sienite, rather than granite; the mica being generally replaced or represented by hornblende. The feldspar, which const.i.tutes three-fourths of the ma.s.s, is of a dull red hue. The rock in connection is greenstone trap, which is sometimes porphyritic. I observed small ma.s.ses of sulphuret of iron in some parts of this rock.

The upheaval of this formation appears to have been of the most ancient era of geological action; for the stratified limestones and sandstones, which lie upon or in juxtaposition to these elevations, have not been disturbed in their horizontality. The alt.i.tude of this primitive tract does not probably exceed one thousand feet above the waters of the St.

Francis river. Vast blocks of the red sienite have been detached, and scattered southwardly over the secondary rocks, apparently by the force of some antique deluge, setting from the north. The whole series of formations may be judged of by the following diagram:

[Ill.u.s.tration]

The general aspect of the country is sterile, though not mountainous.

The lands lie rolling, like a body of water in gentle agitation. In some places they rise into abrupt cliffs, where the rock formations appear.

Generally, they present the form of diluvial ridges, sparingly covered with forest, and bearing a growth of prairie-gra.s.s and herbage. The western banks of the Mississippi, between St. Genevieve and Herculaneum, present a mural front to this district, in a series of elevated perpendicular cliffs of compact limestone. The whole coast extending to St. Louis, appears to be sufficiently elevated to have served as a former barrier to waters covering the low grounds of Illinois. The strata exhibit ancient water-marks of a diluvial character. They are broken through, from the west, by small streams draining the mine country.

No indications of lead-ore have been found in these cliffs. The mines are situated at considerable distances west of them; and when the observer has arrived at their localities, he finds the ore often lying in the unconsolidated soil. This soil is a stiff, reddish-colored clay, filled with fragments of cherty stones, quartz, and small gravel, clearly attesting its diluvial character. This soil extends to the depth of from ten to twenty feet, or more, and is based on limestone rock. It is so firm, in some places, as almost to resist the pick-axe; in others, it partakes more fully of marl, and is readily penetrated. The ore lies in this marly clay, and is often accompanied by sulphate of barytes and calcareous spar. The country is particularly characterized by radiated quartz, which is strewn in detached pieces over the ground, and is also found imbedded in the soil at all depths. This substance is here called _blossom of lead_, or _mineral blossom_. Pyrites, and some other ores of iron, are also found in detached ma.s.ses upon the surface, and, very rarely, lead-ore.

Such is the general character of the mineral lands, which are covered with a stunted growth of oaks, denominated post-oaks. Walnut is found in some instances out of the valleys. A ridge of yellow pine extends west of the mines, between the St. Francis and Maramec, and is more decidedly barren than the grounds covered with oak. All the open, elevated tracts, are clothed with herbage, which hides their flinty aspect, and gives the country a picturesque appearance. The minor slopes and ravines are often rendered almost impa.s.sable by hazel, vines, and other bramble, which appear to be indicative of a better, or rather a deeper soil. The whole area of upland soil, which rests as a mantle over the rocks, is a diluvium, which must, we think, be referred to an early period of diluvial action.

The only true alluvium of the mines appears to be confined to the valleys or plains, which are, consequently, the princ.i.p.al seats of cultivation, and thus derive an additional value from their contiguity to the barren tracts. This alluvium rests on the red marl-clay, or mineral diluvium; the latter of which is uniformly found on penetrating it. Some of the mines exist in, and have been pursued beneath, this top alluvion, across the valleys. Others are seated beneath an arable soil, bearing a forest. Many of the most barren and stony parts of the elevated lands are, on the contrary, dest.i.tute of mines. The depth of the mineral soil varies exceedingly. It barely conceals the rock formations in many of the more elevated positions, and frequently does not conceal them. It is deepest in the plains and depressed grounds, being acc.u.mulated much in the manner we should expect, on the supposition of a general diluvial submersion.

The princ.i.p.al objection to a general diluvial action, involving the whole Mississippi valley, appears to arise from the admission of the limestone rock's being the true locality of the ore. But we think there are too many facts in support of this opinion, to leave any reasonable grounds for questioning it. Several of the mines in the mineral soil have been traced down into the rock, and have been pursued through apertures, closing and expanding in the manner of true veins. In the numerous cases where the rock has put a stop to further mining, and it has exhibited no signs of ore, it may be supposed that the ore has been moved, by diluvial force, from the original position of the mine, and been finally deposited, with the soil, upon unmetalliferous portions of the rock. And could we with certainty determine the course of diluvial action, the principles of mining might be, in some respects, employed in searching for the original vein. It is evident, from the unscratched and unbroken surface of much of the ore and its spars, that it could not have been transported far; while the portions of it called gravel ore, which evince its diluvial character, are manifest proofs of a change, more or less extensive, in the general position of the ore.

With respect to the character of the limestone, we have been perplexed with its protean character, and, to avoid apparent contradictions, were led, at first, to adopt distinctions of strata, which we very soon saw were untenable. It is evidently the American equivalent for the metalliferous limestone of England, and, as a formation, is of the transition era. In a specimen of this rock, now before us, taken from a fresh excavation at Potosi, forty feet below the surface of the soil, and thirty-one feet below the original surface of the rock, the structure is in part compact, and in part granular; the compact portions having minute s.h.i.+ning crystalline points, and the granular being without any appearance of crystallization, but changing, in the width of about forty lines, from compact granular to a dull arenaceous structure, quite friable between the fingers. Part of the ma.s.s is vesicular, and the vesicles are studded over with minute crystals of white opaque quartz.

The two extremes of this specimen have the appearance of totally different formations, yet are both calcareous. By experiment, I found a portion of the lower arenaceous part almost completely soluble, in the cold, in nitro-sulphuric acid; and the actual residuum was, in part, owing to a defect in trituration.

Most of the limestone rock disclosed by excavation in the mines, is of the granulated kind; while the structure of the rock above the surface, where the strata are exposed to the weather, as in cliffs and hill-sides, is of the solid, glistening, pseudo-compact variety. Both these varieties, as shown in the specimen, are geologically identical, notwithstanding their striking differences in hardness, structure, colour, and particularly in crystalline l.u.s.tre. This l.u.s.tre is, however, as shown by examination with the magnet, owing almost exclusively to minute facets of calcareous crystals, which render it rather sparry than crystalline.

We have examined large portions of this rock, in all its varieties, for organic remains; but have not succeeded in finding any well-characterized species, although a further and fuller search might, and probably would, disclose some species. We observed a single ma.s.s of the rock, an imperfectly columniform structure, apparently organic. The rock is rather vesicular than cavernous in its structure. The heavy deposit of diluvium conceals the surface. But if the appearances in the mine-diggings are to be received as general indicia, the surface of the concealed rock is extremely rough and irregular, standing up, in the mineral soil, in huge lumps, which renders the general depth at which it may be reached, a question of great uncertainty.

It has been intimated that the sparry-compact, and the dull granulated varieties of the limestone, are often contiguous; and we have seen, by the examination of a hard specimen, that they are geologically identical as a formation. If this compact variety from the mines be compared with the princ.i.p.al formation in the precipitous cliffs forming the western banks of the Mississippi, in front of the mine tract, they will be found to coincide in so many points, that these two localities may be deemed parts of the same formation, and as being identical in age. The princ.i.p.al differences consist in the occurrence of organic remains in the strata along the banks of the Mississippi; a discovery attributable to the more full exposure of these cliffs to observation.

There is also an apparent absence of the granulated, or sand-lime variety. These two calcareous tracts are not, however, continuous, being separated by a formation of granular quartz, or white crystalline sandstone, which runs nearly parallel with the Mississippi for a distance, a few miles west of it. This stratum of rock, which appears to be rather a quartzose sandstone than a granular quartz, reappears west of Potosi, in the barren area called the Pinery, and is also apparent at several localities between the waters of the Maramec and the St.

Francis.

At a point thirty miles west of the Mississippi, in about the lat.i.tude of St. Genevieve, the primitive formation reveals itself in a series of mountain ma.s.ses of granite, which cover a comparatively extensive area.

This tract appears to be the nucleus of the country, rising through the great secondary formations which intervene between the Alleghany and the Rocky mountains. Its western limits have not yet been explored; but it probably covers an area of not less than a hundred square miles. The mines lie north of it. This granite is composed almost exclusively of reddish feldspar and quartz. The proportion of mica is small, and this mineral is often absent. It has been employed as a material for millstones. It is connected with greenstone, which is sometimes porphyritic.

We have now three formations of rock, as const.i.tuting the mine series; and it only remains to point out their relative position and extent, with the best means at our command. This might seem to be a very simple process, and would indeed be so, were it not that the area over which the formations extend is extensive, and is covered with deep formations of the diluvial and alluvial character, bearing a forest. The primitive is immediately succeeded by the two latter. Mine a La Motte is situated in the mineral diluvium, and is distant about two miles from the granite on Blackford's fork. The first appearance of rock, in situ, north of this point, is at Rock creek, a few miles distant, where the granular quartzose sandstone appears. There is no further appearance of rock in this direction for many miles. The white crystalline sand-caves of St.

Genevieve are seated in this formation. It is again disclosed on the Platten creek, and in the elevations west of the Joachim creek, called Fort Rock, and in the white sand-caves near Herculaneum. Whether it is continued farther in the approach to the Maramec, cannot be stated; but the line of country which is thus traversed by it, is probably sixty miles. The only point where this rock appears on the banks of the Mississippi, is in the range of the Cornice Rocks.

Proceeding west across this formation, the mineral diluvium succeeds, and conceals the rock formations; but, wherever they are disclosed by the action of the streams, and by excavations, the metalliferous limestone appears, which const.i.tutes the lowest stratum yet found in the mine region proper. But it is to be observed, that no excavations of any considerable depth have been made; the rock has not been penetrated to any great depth. The princ.i.p.al seat of the mines consists of the area included within the circuits of the Grand river and Mineral Fork, const.i.tuting the main tributaries of the Maramec. These streams extend something in the shape of a horse-shoe around the mines. Immediately west and south-west of this area, the white sandstone reappears, extending south towards the granite. The position of the two formations may be represented by a pair of expanded dividers, opening northward; the two shanks of which denote the sandstone ridges, and the head, or rivet, the primitive.