REPORT.
TO THE PRESIDENT AND DIRECTORS
OF THE
VANDERBURG MINING COMPANY.
GENTLEMEN:
I have, the 1ast
month, made a survey of the property belonging to the Vanderburg Mining Company
in North Caro1ina, and herewith send you a map I have prepared of the same, on
which the principal veins and important features of the property will be found
plotted. The main tract comprises several estates now conso1idated into one. It
has an extreme 1ength, north and south, of about, one mile and 100 rods, and
east and west is nowhere less tban 200 rods. It bounds the property of the
Phoenix Mining Company on the north and east, and must have upon it the
extension of all the veins worked by this Company.
It is about six
miles from Concord, in Cabarrus county to which place the North Carolina
Railroad will be in operation next spring. The surface of the country is
elevated; it is moderately hilly, fertile and well watered. The principal tract
is about equally divided between farming and timber land. The growth is mostly
oak with groves of small pines. Many large yellow pines are intermixed with the
hard, wood growth.
The rock
formation is greenstone-seldom seen outcropping, but exposed in loose pieces
over the surface, and reached below by mining operations. It passes into a
highly ferruginous horn-blend rock, with which is associated a little
serpentine and epidote. The slate belt of this region lies farther east; the
granite belt is on the west, extending beyond Concord.
A great number of metaliferous veins
traverse the greenstone, pursuing a general course N.50 to N.65E. They consist
of quartz, with which are associated sulphate of barytes, spathic iron,and
pyritiferous iron and copper. Gold has been found disseminated so abundantly
through the vein-stones, that explorations upon them have been extensively
carried on at times when mining operations were little in favor, capital not
abundant; and when the ores were necessarily transported several miles to the
nearest mill.
The vein, which
has been most worked, is traced across a considerable portion of the Phoenix
tract and the whole of the Vanderburg by a succession of pits sunk along its
line of out-crop. On both tracts the mining upon it is now prosecuted to a
depth requiring steam power for the extraction of the water and ores. It has
yielded rich bunches of gold ore near the surface; and throughout the vein gold
is diffused in such quantity, that the heaps of ore now lying upon the surface
are valued at not less than $2.00 per bushel by the former proprietors of the Vanderburg
mine. Many of the specimens extracted present a beautiful show of coarse gold,
such as are not often found at the best mines in the State. As in depth the
vein is more pyritiferous than near the surface, it is not unlikely the
production may continue to greater depths than is usual at mines deficient in
the yellow sulphurets of iron and copper. At Gold Hill,in the same vicinity,
gold is abundant in the pyritiferous ores to the greatest depth yet reached,
which is 340 feet. The deepest workings on the Vanderburg are only 100 feet.
Pyritous copper ore is found in such quantity that the mine may fairly be
regarded as a copper mine, and when further opened by lower levels than the
present workings may reasonably be expected to produce largely of this ore.
From my survey of the mine, sections of which accompany the map, it will be
seen that the whole extent of the underground workings is only 176 feet,
horizontally, and but a small portion of this is at the depth of the bottom of
the shafts. With so great a length of vein the workings can be regarded as
little more than superficial. The thickness of the vein varies from three and a
half feet down to a few inches. It is more regular than the veins in Guilford
County. It is remarkable for its smooth walls, and the "comb" like
character of its vein-stones, This feature and the occurrence of the materials
making the vein in parallel layers, which is also noticed here, are regarded by
miners as very favorable signs of a good vein. Of itself this vein is sufficient
to justify the establishment of mining operations on a liberal scale without
reference to the other veins, some of which I now proceed to notice.
The next vein
towards the South-east is eighteen rods distant, and pursues a course nearly
parallel with the first, so far as it is exposed by the pits opened upon it.
The material thrown out appears well as gold ore, and is encouraging for
further exploration. The ground is favorably situated for opening the mine to
advantage. As it can be proved for this reason, with little expense, it will be
advisable to do this as soon as a mill is in operation for grinding the ores.
The third vein in
this direction is called the "Orchard Vein:" having received this
name on the Phoenix tract, from which it passes into the Vanderburg. It is on
the latter about 83 rods South-east of the second vein just described, On the
Phoenix its course is about N. 64 E. Approaching Plum Run it curves more to the
Eastward, and its line of out-crop is very crooked. This is in part owing to
the unevenness of the surface, which in connection with an underlay or dip to
the N. W., somewhat flat on the surface, would give greater irregularity of
outline to the out-crop of a vein than belongs to its true course. Many pits
have been sunk along this vein on the Vanderburg; a shaft also, from which a
large amount of material has been taken out, as is evident from the size of the
waste heap remaining; and a short adit has been driven into the hill on the S.
W. side of the tract. On the Phoenix two shafts have been sunk upon the same
vein and a whim is now in operation working it. My only means of forming an
opinion of this vein were the general reputation it has; the extent of the
former operations, which corroborate its favorable reputation; and the appearance
of the stuff remaining upon the surface. The rock forming the country is
greenstone with serpentine intermixed. The production of gold, I learn from
good authority, was considerable, though the ore was of variable character.
Pyritous copper was met with in such quantity, both upon the Phoenix and
Vanderburg, that one would be well warranted in sinking deep shafts in
expectation of finding this ore in abundance. In very superficial pits, at the
workings farther to the N. E., near the spring and large poplar, noted upon the
map, the indications of good copper are very favorable, and here would be a
convenient point for sinking upon the vein, and taking off the surface water by
a short adit. Were a new Company to be organized for working a portion of the
mines of this tract, Plum Run would make a convenient division and leave
sufficient territory to the South-east of it.
To the North-west of the first vein described, another vein of importance is
found about fifty-seven rods distant. It has been worked on the lands of Julius
Vanderburg, adjoining the Company's tract on the North east, by surface
diggings and by a shaft forty feet deep. It is said to have produced good gold
ore. On the other side the property, bordering the Phoenix Company's tract, the
same vein (probably) out-crops on a little brook, called Monkey Branch. Both
gold and copper ores are found loose in the banks of the stream; and,
notwithstanding the prohibition of the former proprietor, the place has been
with some a favorite resort after freshets for collecting little
"nuggets" of gold. All applications for rights to wash the deposits
have been steadily refused. From the information I gathered from one, who has
been accustomed to the business of gold washing in this region, I am of the opinion
the vein along this part of Monkey Branch, will be found a very valuable one;
and the copper ores met with in the stream, which I found myself, are strong
evidence of a workable vein of this metal.
"Branch
mining," or working the deposits of the streams, has been prosecuted to a
considerable extent in this region. A little run just over the boundary, in the
farm of Julius Vanderburg, which crosses the continuation of the above
described vein, as also that of the vein now worked by the Company, has afforded
a considerable amount of coarse gold. This fact together with that of the
veins, which must have furnished this deposit gold being actually opened and
presenting highly encouraging features, ought to inspire strong confidence, and
lead to the laying out of mining operations on a scale commensurate with the
extent and promise of the property. With a mill upon the spot for grinding the
gold ores, the expense of transporting these, which is always a heavy item, is
saved; and according to the extent of the mill, its capability of grinding up
the poorer ores to profit in large quantities is increased, while the general
expenses are reduced in proportion to the product. All mines furnish a much
larger proportion of poor than rich ores. It is only those, which are
extensively worked and provided with abundant machinery, that can make the
great bulk of their products profitable. The difference in the returns must be
very considerable, when only the ores yielding a dollar or more per bushel can
be made to pay the expenses of preparation, and when those yielding twenty-five
cents can be worked to profit, as is the case at some of the gold mines in
Virginia. Few companies have so large a field for their operations and one
containing so many veins known to be productive as the Vanderburg Company.
Along the
North-western boundary of the tract are pits sunk upon another vein. This may
be a continuation of the
"Faggot vein", which between these pits and the Hagler Lot
(belonging to the Company) has been worked quite extensively. Several shafts
were sunk upon this vein, beside almost a continuous line of pits up to the
boundary of the Hagler Lot, which the vein enters upon its northern line.
Running in a direction about S. 34 W., its course is obliquely across the longest
dimensions of this lot. Separated from the nearest point of the main tract by
only fifteen rods, this Hagler Lot of about 80 acres may be worked either under
the same or a distinct organization.
The out-crop of
still other veins is marked by loose pieces of quartz and other vein-stones
near the eastern boundary of the main tract. These probably connect with the
first and second veins described. Their position is noted upon the map, but no
work having been done upon them, a particular description cannot be given.
Besides the
Hagler Lot is another tract of about fifty six acres lying near the main body
of the property of the Company on the Northern side of the farm Julius
Vanderburg and Tice Reinhardt. The nearest point of approach is 45 rods N. 63
30' East of the extreme northern corner. Stretching thence to the eastward the
lot takes the continuation of the veins which pass through the centre of the
main tract, and through the farm of J. Vanderburg. Several have been opened,
and the extent of the pits upon no less than three of these veins indicate that
here too they must have been found productive in gold. Although this tract may
not be at once required for the operations of the Company, it cannot but be
regarded as an important accession to their resources.
The
"Plunkett" tract is a forth lot about two miles distant, to the
South-east, on a stream called Rocky River. This contains about ninety acres,
and 1 am informed has upon it veins of similar character to the others in this
region. My time was too limited to give this the same examination as the rest
of the property.
With such
resources, abundant territory well located, and containing numerous rivers, all
producing gold and some copper ore --- also the gold in many of the veins
having heretofore, under disadvantageous circumstances, been extracted to
profit, and copper ores
having every appearance of
increasing in quantity and value as the mines are worked deeper---the property
of the Vanderburg Mining Company is likely to repay generously the capital and
enterprise expended in its
thorough development.
Respectfully, I am yours, etc.,
JAMES T. HODGE.