[meteorite-list] NPA 02-26-1907 Mining Progress at Meteor Crater, Holsinger

[MARK BOSTICK]

Paper: Arizona Republican
City: Phoenix, Arizona
Date: Tuesday, February 26, 1907
Page: 4

Progress of the Novel Operation of the Standard Iron Co. in Northern Arizona

     S. J. Holsinger, superintendent of the Standard Iron company, was 
interviewed yesterday concerning the operations of the company which as many 
people know is engaged in a novel occupation having two important objects in 
view. One is the development of the most unique iron mine in the world and 
the other a scientific study of the largest meteor known to man. The scene 
of the operations is in northern Arizona no great distance from the railroad 
and about three and a half miles from Canyon Diablo. An immense depression 
or crater-like formation is found there, its greatest depth being about 600 
feet. Opinion differed in the past concerning it. Some believed it was a 
volcanic crater and some thought it was the hole left by a monstrous meteor 
which had struck the earth some time in past ages. Mr. Holsinger so reported 
it to the land office when he when he was in its service, and later a 
company of capitalists was formed for its exploitation, Mr. Holsinger being 
made the superintendent. Explorations have been going on now for two or 
three years, and Mr. Holsinger says the results have been most satisfactory, 
although final success has not been achieved. The gentlemen furnishing the 
money are interested in scientific things and have published a number of 
works on this meteor of one kind and another. They hoped first to 
demonstrate that it was the work of a meteor, and second, it was believe 
that if a meteor itself could be found it would be most valuable deposit of 
iron. Operations were suspended last September on account of a deficient 
water supply, but since then a dam has been put in Canyon Diablo and water 
is pumped to Meteor. Work will be resumed about April 1st.
     Four holes have been drilled in the bottom of the crater to the depth 
of 1000 feet, making a total depth of 1600 feet below the surrounding 
country. At this depth the crew of the diamond drills have shown the 
penetration of the original unaltered sandstone. Scientific men say this 
proves conclusive that the crater was made by a meteor, or at least was not 
of volcanic origin for if it were the formation below would have been 
disturbed. Drilling will be continued, not to greater depth but in other 
directions, for the location of the immense meteor that it is believed is 
somewhere imbedded on one side or another of the crater. And it must have 
been a monster to have torn a hole through the solid line and sandstone of 
that immediate section.
     The theory is that the meteor struck the earth at something of an angle 
and therefore did not go straight down. It naturally follows that it would 
be found on one side of the crater. Some contend that when found it will 
prove to be a solid mass of iron. Others believe it is considerable 
shattered or broken up. The last hole sunk was the nearest to the outside of 
the crater and the results were more encouraging than previously, that is 
more iron specimens were recovered. This leads to the belief that they are 
prospecting in the right direction. Altogether, since the beginning of 
operations about 4000 fragments of meteoric iron have been found, varying in 
weight from a few pennyweights to 300 pounds.
     Professor Fairchild of Rochester, secretary of the Geologica Society of 
the world, who recently visited the place said it was undoubtedly the eighth 
wonder of the world in point of discovery, but was the first in point of 
interest, scientifically and otherwise. Many other scientific men have 
visited the crater, in fact they are coming and going all the time, and they 
all agree to the sentiment of Prof. Fairchild.
     It is fortunate indeed for Arizona, that this wonder came into the 
possession of the men who became deeply interested in it and who at the same 
time had money and pluck enough to exploit it. They will feel repaid even if 
they never get their money back but it is sincerely hoped they will also 
made a financial success of their investment.

(end)

Clear Skies,
Mark Bostick
Wichita, Kansas
http://www.meteoritearticles.com
http://www.kansasmeteoritesociety.com
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