300 ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY. 



ON THE PRODUCTION OF COPPER. 



MESSRS. Foster and Whitney, in their report on the geology of Lake 

 Superior, state,-" that they consider the mining interest of this section 

 of country to be yet in its infancy. When it is considered that nearly 

 the entire copper region of Lake Superior is an unreclaimed wilderness, 

 the miners' settlements appearing like mere dots on the surface, cov- 

 ered with a dense growth of trees, through which the explorer with 

 difficulty _ forces a path ; and that, except where the streams have 

 worn their beds in the rock, or the hills terminate in bold and craggy 

 ledges, the ground is covered with a thick carpet of mosses and lichens, 

 effectually concealing every trace of veins, it is surprising that such an 

 amount of mineral wealth has been revealed within so short a period. 

 This region had occasionally been traversed by the trapper, and the white 

 man had coasted along its rock-bound shores, at intervals, for nearly 

 two hundred years ; but, up to the year 1841, when Iloughton made 

 his reconnoissance, we have no evidence that a really productive vein 

 had been observed. To him is to be ascribed the credit of having first 

 pronounced on the value of this region for mining purposes, and delin- 

 eated its geological outlines. 



" As the country becomes opened, and the means of exploration be- 

 come increased, new sources of mineral wealth will undoubtedly be 

 revealed. There will be an increase in the products of these mines 

 from year to year, until the national supply will exceed the national 

 consumption. For certain purposes in the arts, the copper of Lake 

 Superior stands unrivalled ; in density and tenacity it surpasses all 

 other ores of copper. The estimated product of the mines for the year 

 1849, was 1,200 tons, and for the year 1850, 2,000 tons. The average 

 value of copper imported into the United States slightly exceeds 

 $1,708,000. Assuming the price of pig copper to be 18 cents per 

 pound, and sheathings to be 22 cents, the annual consumption would 

 l)e less than 5,000 tons. The product of the Lake Superior mines, for 

 the year 1851, will probably reach one half this sum, or 2,500 tons." 

 _ According to the estimates of M. Leplay, Secretary of the Commis- 

 sion of Mining Statistics in France, the whole amount of copper pro- 

 duced in the world is equal to 52,400 tons. This, however, does not 

 include portions of the Asiatic continent, with regard to which we 

 have no statistical knowledge, but of which the mineral produce is 

 entirely consumed within its own borders. According to the same 

 authority, this amount of copper is consumed in the following manner : 



Great Britain, . . 10,600 

 France, . . . 9,200 



German Customs L T nion, . 5,400 

 Austrian Empire, . . 2,600 

 Russian Empire, . . 2,000 

 Sweden and Norway, . 400 



Tons. Tons. 



Other States of Europe, . 6,600 



America, (U. S., 5,000,) . 6,100 

 Asiatic Continent, (India 



and Oceanica,) . . 8,300 



Japan, .... 1,200 



Total, . . . 52,400 



