ESSEX COUNTY. 237 



About a mile west of Port Henry, another vein, similar in its geological associations to that 

 of Crag harbor, has been opened. The ore is less pure, being mixed with more earthy 

 matter ; and some portions are highly charged witii iron pyrites, so much so as to require 

 roasting before they can be used for castings. It is more friable, or softer, as it is termed, 

 and may be reduced readily to that form which is necessary before it is put into the furnace. 

 This vein does not appear at all adapted to the manufacture of bar iron ; but I was informed 

 by a gentleman of undoubted experience, that it is the best vein in the neighborhood for the 

 furnace, and that it formed the smoothest castings of any which had been used at the furnace 

 while the late Maj. Daliba carried on the business. 



Walton or Old Croivn-Point Vein. 



One mile and a half from Cedar point, is the Walton vein, the oldest one which has been 

 wrouglit in this vicinity, having been opened more than half a century. It has an open ex- 

 posure to the east, being situated at the base of a low ridge running nearly northeast. This 

 vein is eleven feet wide, and has been explored for half a mile to the depth of thirty feet. 

 It dips with the strata thirty degrees to the west, with a strike corresponding to that of the 

 gneiss ill which it is enclosed. It is black, friable, or easily reduced to that mechanical 

 state of fineness which is essential to its easy reduction in the forge or furnace. It is explored 

 to the open day, and the wall of gneiss upon the upper side is supported bjr columns of ore 

 left in silu. The line of demarkation between the ore and rock is perfectly distinct, for the 

 whole distance exposed. The iron made of this ore is of a good quality, having the requisite 

 degree of toughness for all ordinary purposes. 



Associated with this vein, is an interesting variety of green feldspar : it seems to be labra- 

 dorite, but at the first inspection it might be mistaken for actinolite, though its cleavages are 

 those of feldspar. 



This ore occurs in a form usually termed a bed, or the walls of the vein correspond to the 

 surfaces of the strata. In its general characters, it is clearly an instance of a vein, being 

 enclosed within parallel walls with a definite direction. 



Sanford Vein. 



This is about four miles northwest of Port Henry, having the same geological relations as 

 the vein last described. Its characters are, however, quite different : its colors incline to brown 

 rather than black, and this is not be attributed to the absorption of oxygen, but to the intermix- 

 ture of a brownish mineral which I conceive to be phosphate of lime. The ore is easily raised, 

 and is a very large mass, but it has less the character of a distinct vein than the preceding. It 

 is friable, or feebly coherent ; and so far as this condition exists, it is one favorable for ex- 

 plorati 111. The dip of the mass is southwest, and it lies in strata or layers, rendered distinct 

 by change of texture, or the intervention of some foreign mineral substance. It is easily 



