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302 Review of the New York Geological Reports. 



ore of formation V, of the Pennsylvania survey, from which some 

 of the best Juniatta iron is manufactured. 



It appears from the New York Reports, that the ore is accessi- 

 ble at numerous localities and of good quality ; yet it is some- 

 what strange that in that great and populous state, it has attracted 

 but little the attention of the iron master ; only two furnaces are 

 enumerated in the range of this ore, the Wolcott and Westmore- 

 land furnaces ; and even these seem to be only partially supplied 

 with ore, for Mr. Vanuxem, on page 84 of his Report, speaking 

 of the ore in question, has the following paragraph : M The ore 

 is very near the surface at Wadsworth's pits, and is of easy ex- 

 traction. None is used, nor will much of this extensive deposite 

 be used, so long as individual interests predominate over national or 

 social ones ; it being more advantageous to use Scotch pigs, either 

 with a portion of the ore or by themselves, than to obtain iron from 

 the ore, though it exists so abundantly and conveniently." 



The value of the southern extension of this iron region in 

 Pennsylvania, may be judged of from the following extract from 

 the report of the state geologist :* " Enough is already known 

 respecting the excellent quality of the ore, the large quantity 

 still readily accessible, and the cheapness of the present modes 

 of mining it, to establish a just confidence in the value of this 

 formation as one of the choicest ore tracts in the state." Take 

 note of that, New Yorkers ! One of the choicest ore tracts in 

 that greatest of iron countries, Pennsylvania ! And why not also 

 in your state ? The formation, it is true, seems to be thicker in 

 Pennsylvania than in New York, but it does not appear from the 

 Reports, that there is much difference in the thickness of the ore 

 beds in the two states. 



The ore in Pennsylvania, and we presume also in New York, is 



often a very convenient mixture of oxide of iron and carbonate of 



lime ; the latter just in the proportion necessary to flux the iron. 



The Clinton group affords in New York, besides the oolitic 



iron ores, no minerals of much economical importance. Some 



fine crystals of quartz and chalcedony have been found in 



geodes originating in the group in question ; also siliceous sinter, 



cacholong and carnelian. At some of its localities, sulphate of 



barytes and sulphate of lime occur in cavities in the Pentamerus 



and upper limestone. At Wolcott the former of these minerals is 



found, of a flesh red color, in the oolitic iron ore. A little pyri- 



* Second annual Report of Prof. Rogers, p. 44. 



