No. 112.] -^ 781 



vicinity of the Cheever minej and very similar in the qualities of 

 the ore. This bed was reached by sinking a shaft 40 feet through 

 the cap rock. 



The Old Sandjord Mine is a vast deposit. It was discovered 

 about thirty years since, cropping out on the brow of a hill of 

 considerable elevation. It lias been worked with slight inter-^ 

 missions since its discovery, and the aggregation of the ore ex- 

 ported from it is almost beyond conception. The bed seems to 

 have been formed by a vast upheaval. The terrific power of the 

 agency that produced it is indicated by the position of the dis- 

 turbed and distorted rocks in the vicinity. This ore is stratified, 

 easily drilled, and a single blast not unfrequently throws off 30 

 tons of pure ore. The length of one openiug of this mine is 214 

 feet, with a breast of ore of 82 feet. The width of this excava- 

 tion averages about 30 feet. Teams may drive into this mine 

 and load directly alongside of the breast. This ore yields 75 per 

 cent, of iron. Large quantities of it, (and indeed most of the 

 ores of this district) are transported to Pittsburgh, commanding 

 at that place $11.50 per ton, where it is mixed with the ores of 

 that region, and is held in the highest estimation. The ore of 

 this mine contains the phospliate of lime, wliich will be noticed 

 in its appropriate place. Another valuable opening of this mine 

 has been excavated, exhibiting a breast of 99 feet, 66 fieet in 

 length, and an average depth of 25 feet. A tliiid manifestation 

 of an important character of tills mine occurs in tlie immediate 

 vicinity of the former. The ^-^ new bed " is situated about one- 

 half a mile from the old Saudf^rd bed. This mine contains the 

 celebrated shot ore, and is nu^re in requisition than an}' ore in 

 this district. It yields 75 per cent, of ]>ure ore. The mine has 

 been excavated a lengtli of 179 fei't, with a breast of IG feet. A 

 block of pure ore, embracing all tlie varieties peculiar to it, has 

 been taken from this mine, weighing 2,175 pounds. The " 7)flr- 

 /on 6e(/" is near the *' New bed.'' Tlie ore is mixed with silex. 

 This is esteemed a highly valuable btnl. The " Old Fis/urhcd^'' is 

 in the same system, and with the ^* Barton bed" is probably a 

 prolongation of the New bed. Tin* ort' in this and the Barton 

 bed is chit-fly arranged in veins. Tiiis series of ore beds is situ- 



