| Show AMONG THE MINERALS the outing of the B Y A field club THE STUDENTS SPEND A NIGHT IN THE CRYSTAL CAVE specimens of the mineral kingdom found editor of the ENQUIRER believing the subject of advancement iu all educational mattera to be one of general as a member of the B Y academy field club we respectfully submit the following to your columns study nature from her own books ia a precept of our worthy instructor prof J E talmage and with this principle in bew many valuable trips have been undertaken and a multitude of practical labors have been by libin and lug enthusiastic students one of the most valuable and successful of these excursions was taken during alie past week to the mining district on wednesday the dinst an organized party of fourteen students principally from the chemistry and geology classes and oliree teachers started on the above named expedition under the direction of prof talmage A number of botanical and zoological specimens were obtained at different places along the route but the birst point of geological interest to be investigated was the extensive deposit of iron ore belonging to the utah mining company after having camped one night on the road we arrived at the above named place about noon on thursday in few places on the earth do such deposits of aliis indispensable metal occur as are hero found the very hills themselves are great masses of iron ore and from all appearances it seems eliat a gigantic fissure vein extends for miles through the mountains now entirely filled with alic oxides of iron though ones study may bo thorough and his examination of cabinet specimens extensive he cannot form a proper conception of the subject without seeing the ore in its natural position extensive tunneling is not required at theae mines and therefore the surface is simply cut away and the ores arc exposed to a daylight view thus examination of them is facilitated such large deposits are of rare occurrence numerous specimens of hematite 7 and soapstone were collected of the latter all degrees of hardness being found from that of butter to that ot very solid rock from this ore alie provo fire proof paint is made and for no other purpose su far has it been utilized it is to be sincerely hoped that alie people of our county will soon take alie matter in hand in a decided way and turn tl ii source of wealth and otili t to general account leaving aliis place we proceeded to silver city wo were kindly re by mr eiter and permitted to visit the black dragon mines the ore here is a hydrated oxide of iron or Sin onite and probably the deposit ia a ot alio same fissure vein on w liichi alie utah valley mines are located alic mountain itself is being cut away bo that the ore here is even more exposed to bew than at the mines before visited after collecting a number our plan next led us from silver city to mammoth hollow where the mammoth mines and crystal cave the called the mammoth cave arc located the arst thing in order of course after such a days work was supper which being disposed of with the ground for a table ami the campfire for a lamp without washing the dishes we proceeded to alie crystal cave where a portion of the night was spent the cave i situated at the end of a tunnel about a hundred feet long on entering the white walla glistened the light of our caudales caud les almost gave the impression that we were in a great cavity in a snow bank in alie cave there are a number of diner chambers all walls being coated with the same calcareous deposit after remaining somo time collecting specimens such as stalagmites mites bibs incrustations and other cal carious formations we retired to camp where even a bed in the sagebrush sage brush seemed quite comfortable ext morning we were kindly received by bupt supt ileno of the mammoth and after examining the surface and the ore dumps wo were conducted by him through me mine many specimens of gold silver and copper ores were obtained by us at these extensive mines breaking camp we started for eureka eliere through alie great courtesy of captain day and kindness of mr gear alio assayer assay cr wo were conducted through the underground passages of the bullion beck mine many points of interest on the different levels were examined the lowest and perhaps alie most instructive being the five hundred foot level below the surface in this mine we visited the property under dispute between alie bullion beck and the eureka companies the cause of the greatest mining law suit that ever occurred in the west alie ore already gotten out and piled is valued at half a million dollars which the winning company will take the courtesies of the eureka company were extended ua through superintendent mccrystal eureka hill on which arc situated the bullion beck eureka keystone blue rock and other noted mines is 1 perfect houey comb there being not less than thirty milea of underground der ground passages in this one hill alone wo were very lucli interested in alie pump carrying water from alie bottom of the hollow to alio blue rock mine situated near the top of the mountain A twenty five horse power engine is used which forces the water through thousand feet of pipe to the place where it is utilized leaving eureka the stamp mills of particular interest to the chemists were examined in these mills the ore from tho northern spy mine is treated by process of gold and silver amalgamation which was here practically studied from Hom ausville we drove to goshch where we camped our last night cut ten next morning found us in santaquin San canyon roaming over the hills collecting specimens better amens of conglomerates than are here to be found could not be desired and beside these arc rare specimens of goranites granites gra sye and many metamorphic rocks after remaining here about two hours wo started home after a very hard but instructive trip who had already extensive cabinets have made invaluable additions on alie trip and others who are just commencing to collect have now a very praiseworthy start H of tho B Y A field club APRIL 23 |
