larger than the rest, called the champion or master range. But in some groups, particularly where the openings are generally large, this distinction is less obvious.

I have already observed that the term East and West is applied to the leading ranges, although they may deviate even 45° from a due east and west course. On comparing the different diggings, it will be found that a certain order prevails in the bearing of the leading East and West ranges; the different ranges in each usually having a common bearing, and a number of different diggings being found combined into a more extended series by the common bearing of their ranges. Thus the general bearing of the leading East and West ranges is, by the compass, E. 8° N. in the Hazel Green, Fairplay and Lower Menominee Diggings, and in those in the adjacent parts of Illinois and Iowa (at Vinegar Hill, north of Galena, and at Dubuque ;) E. 5° N. in the Brushhill, Whig and Platteville Diggings; E. 20° S. in the Potosi, Upper Menominee, Patch and Benton Diggings; also in the Shullsburg and Mineral Point Diggings, and in a large extent of the eastern diggings, chiefly in the northern part of Green county; E. 10° S. in the Cassville and Beetown Diggings; also in the S. E. Platteville and Elk Grove Diggings; E. 5° S. at North Buncomb, Shaw's Hollow and New Diggings; and S. E. in the range of diggings near Fever river, extending from Buzzard's Roost to the Shullsburg branch at Quinby's mill. The bearing of the ranges has thus an important connexion with the systematic arrangement. It should be viewed in this connected manner to give it interest both in a scientific and practical point of view.

On looking at the map, in which I have attempted to give the local arrangement of the diggings, so far as I have examined them, a systematic order presents itself, pervading the whole district, which indicates that the mineral deposits are not casual, but regularly arranged. This may be regarded as an important confirmation of the facts already stated in relation to the arrangement of the mineral in veins. My object, in this map, is not to

give all the particular ranges, but only the mode of arrangement, and the relative extent of the diggings. It includes only that part of the mineral district in Wisconsin, already examined, with some of the connected diggings in the adjoining part of Illinois. Had I been able to make a reconnoissance of the whole of the mineral district, the arrangement would have been more complete, and some of the series better filled than they now are; but such as it is, it will serve to illustrate the view I have taken of the subject, and the mode in which I should proceed to investigate it.

The first point to which I would direct attention is the occurence of several extensive connected series of ranges between which little or no mineral has yet been discovered. These series exhibit a general conformity in their arrangement. Beginning at the south-west, they first bear northerly, then easterly, and then south easterly; thus forming an extensive curve. I have already observed that one of these series (that at Vinegar Hill, Ill.) first bears north-westerly (N. N. W.) and then north-easterly. This course may also be traced in the series next west (that at Hazel Green,) and the observations which I have thus far made in other series would seem to indicate this as the general arrangement.

The different series, which I have been able to trace, are the following, beginning at the north-west: 1. That commencing at the Muddy Diggings, north of Cassville, then passing N. N. E. to the North Diggings, and then east to the Beetown Diggings, where it expands particularly towards the north, and towards the east shows a bearing to the south east. This is probably connected with the Pigeon Diggings and other diggings farther east, north of the line of my present exploration. On the south-west, it may be connected with the diggings in Iowa opposite Cassville. 2. That extending from near the mouth of Grant river through the different groups of the Potosi Diggings to the Red-Dog Diggings in a north-easterly (N. N. E.) direction; then east by the Brushhill and Whig Diggings to the Platteville Diggings, where it expands towards the north; and then in an E. S. E. direction through the South-East Platteville and Elk Grove Diggings to the Strawberry

Diggings, where it is interrupted by a wide extent of prairie farther east, in which no ranges have yet been traced. This is prob ably connected in range with the diggings west of the Mississippi, in a direction south from Potosi, (the Macoqueta and Dubuque Diggings,) which would farther complete it on that side. 3. That commencing near the south line of the State in the Fairplay Diggings, and extending northerly (first N. N. E. then N. N. W.) through the Lower Menominee to the Upper Menominee (Jamestown) Diggings; then bearing E. N. E. through the latter, then shifting north-easterly to the Patch Diggings, then passing E. S. E. to the Buzzard's Roost Diggings, and then bearing south-east to the Shullsburg branch, north of New Diggings. This is proba bly connected with the Lower Galena Diggings, in the forks of Fever river and the Mississippi, S. S. E. of the Fairplay Diggings. 4. That including the Hazel Green Diggings, which may be traced from those diggings into Illinois, first S. S. W. then S. S. E. to the Upper Galena Diggings (north of Galena.). On its western border, in the Hazel Green Diggings, it bears N. N. E. to the Hoss Diggings, and then curves around to the E. S. E. through the Benton Diggings to Fever river at Benton. 5. That including the Vinegar Hill Diggings, bearing N. N. W. to Vinegar Hill, then north-easterly to Buncomb and Shaw's Hollow, and then easterly through the New Diggings. 6. East of the south-east point of series 3, the E. S. E. direction of series 4 (at Benton) is resumed at Earnest and Spenceley's Diggings on the Shullsburg branch, and continued through the Shullsburg Diggings. These are intersected by the extensive range of North and Souths leading from the East Blackleg (connected with a series of East and Wests on the East Fork of Fever river) through the North and Souths at Townsend's and the Irish Diggings to the East and Wests at Stump Grove, N. N. E. of Shullsburg. 7. A series of small groups may be traced easterly, in a line east from the Strawberry Digginga, through Skidmore's and Halstead's Diggings, by Darlington, to Whiteside's Diggings, whence it bears south-easterly to the Wiota Diggings. 8. Another series, commencing at King's and the

Forked Deer Diggings, west of the West Pecatonica, extends first E. N. Easterly by the Duke's Prairie Diggings to the Yellow Stone Diggings, then through these in a general easterly course to ther East Pecatonica, and to Biggs' and the Badger Diggings, and then! south-easterly by Shook's Prairie (the Aspen Grove Mine) tos Skinner's Diggings and others north and east of Monroe. 9. The diggings at Mineral Point apparently form part of another se-} ries, commencing on the south-west at the forks of the West) Pecatonica and the Mineral Point branch, and thence bearing N. N. Easterly, but the course of which I have not yet had an opporÌ tunity of tracing satisfactorily to the north-east and cast. Thisi series perhaps extends by Dodgeville, Ridgeway and the Blue Mounds to Exeter; first bearing. N. N. E. to Dodgeville, then east to the Blue Mounds, and then south-east to its termination at the valley of Sugar river.

These series are in some instances connected by intermediate groups. Thus the South-West Platteville Diggings may be considered as intermediate between series 3 at the Patch Diggings and series 2 at the main body of the Platteville Diggings. Oth er instances will be stated in the details following. In no part of › the mineral district examined, have I observed so great a connex-J ion of different series as at Benton and New Diggings, where several seem to concentrate.

The grouping of the East and Wests by their bearings does not correspond strictly with this arrangement in connected series, but has important relations to it. Thus the bearing E. 10° S. prevails through series 1, as far as yet examined, and in the east part of series 2, where it bears E. S. E.; but these two divisions are remote and detached. That of E. 20° S. prevails in the Potosi Diggings in series 2, the Upper Menominee and Patch Diggings in series 3, the Benton Diggings in series 4, and the Shullsburg Diggings in series 6. These extend across the country in a general E. S. E direction, and include all the diggings in their course, except the south-east point of series 3. The same bearing is observed in the Mineral Point Diggings and in most of the diggings

east of the East Pecatonica in Green Co., including those in the east part of series 8. The bearing E. 8° N. prevails in the southwest part of series 2, 3, 4 and 5, presenting one great body of mineral from west to east, the most remarkable and that which shows best the predominance of the East and West ranges. Different ranges are supposed to be continued through the whole extent from the Dubuque Diggings on the west to the Hazel Green Diggings on the east, and even farther, and some are said to have been traced through by survey. At least it may be affirmed that the series formed in nearly an east and west line, by the Dubuque, Fairplay and Hazel Green Diggings, and continued through those at Benton, New Diggings and Shullsburg, is the most connected and regular and in the whole the most productive of any in the mineral district.

Some series of less extent or more interrupted may be traced, conforming in their arrangement to the more extended series, and perhaps indicating the course of bodies of mineral which have not yet been explored. Thus one such may be traced from a group of ranges S. S. E. of Sinsinawa Mound (Gautier's and others,) N. N. E. by Turner's Diggings to the Findley Diggings on the west fork of the Sinsinawa, and to the source of the east fork of the same. The large bodies of mineral recently found at Turner's Diggings would seem to indicate that farther important dis coveries may yet be expected along that line. Slighter indications of another such series may be traced, between the Mississippi and the Great Menominee, from Gilbert's and Henderson's digging, just south of the State line, by Sinipee to the Wolf Diggings, near Dickeysville (Paris,) west of the Jamestown Diggings. These lines of detached diggings, although they may be as yet of little importance, are worthy of notice, in connexion with farther searches for mineral, or as guides for prospecting.

In tracing the different series, it will be found that the different groups succeed each other in a certain order, variously modified indeed, but yet tending to a general system. The following detail will serve better to illustrate the arrangement of the series.