Page:Report on the geology of the four counties, Union, Snyder, Mifflin and Juniata (IA reportongeologyo00dinv).pdf/211

Rh the almost right angled bend in the ore-bed, changing it from a flat to a vertical one and without break. There is very little appearance of the Ore sandstone throughout the little synclinal basin, although it is reported as underlying the ore in the mine.

Dr. A. M. Smith’s slope is sunk on the north outcrop of the Sand Vein, or rather the slope passes through the vertical part of the bed; through the overlying slates, and strikes the bed again where its dip has been reversed in the basin. The breasts in this mine are 21′ apart and are driven in from the gangway 4′×12′ and then widened out to 21′. The gangways are 6′ wide at the bottom, 3′ wide on top and 7′ high. The breasts are driven up on the rise of the bed for about 35 yards, the miner taking out the ore from one side going up and the other returning, thus leaving along the main gangway pillars 21′×12′ for support. The average output per month in 1888 was about 500 tons, although between September 1st, 1887 and September 1st, 1888, between 10,000 and 12,000 tons had been mined.

The mine was opened in July, 1887, and the first shipments made in September, and it was the only really active mine in the whole of Union and Snyder counties during the season of 1888.

Gangways have been run on the north and south sides of the basin for some distance westward, keeping in the central flat portion of the trough and veering towards one another, leaving a wedge-shaped mass of ore between for future development. All the water drains through these gangways eastward to the shaft where it is lifted 50′ to the surface.

The ore averages about 50 per cent. of metallic iron and while it may not maintain such excellence, the conditions are all favorable for obtaining a large amount of excellent soft fossil ore at comparatively light expense and of sufficient purity to be readily marketed throughout the district.

The Bloomsburg Iron Company own the leases on these lands, Dr. Smith sub-leasing from them.

The Sand Vein has been opened in several places and drifts along its main ontcrop to the north, where it is usually