CLINTON COUNTY. 



301 



making a harder iron, by which it is adapted to a greater variety of purposes, as horse-shoes, 

 wagon tire, chains, etc. From the abundance of quartz in tlie Palmer ore, it requires washing 

 before it is reduced, which is one of the principal reasons why the Arnold is preferred to it 

 at a stated price. 



If the opinion is correct, that in piercing the fourteen foot dyke the main vein was reached, 

 then there can be no doubt that the quantity of ore is inexhaustible. That part of the mass 

 which was pierced upon the west side, measured thirty-five feet from southeast to northwest ; 

 a direction which appeared, at the time of measurement, to coincide with a transverse section 

 of the vein. The eastern wall, however, is formed at this place by the dyke, from which the 

 ore cleaves with perfect freedom, leaving a naked and smooth surface. The opposite wall is 

 formed of the rock, to which the ore adheres somewhat unequally, leaving an irregular uneven 

 surface. Still the surface exposed bore some of the general characters of a wall. The ques- 

 tion, however, could not be determined until the working had proceeded farther. The vein 

 upon the west side appears to dip in that direction, or the ore goes downward with increasing 

 width ; but whether it is a true dip, or a widening of the mass, could not be determined. 

 Should the owners of this vein continue to work it, some interesting facts will be disclosed 

 hereafter, particularly in regard to tlie relations of the magnetic oxide to the rock ; for though 

 I have spoken of this and many other instances of the mineral existing as an ordinary vein, 

 yet the word has been adopted partly from convenience ; for neither the term vein nor bed 

 appears to express the true relation to the rock. 



Cook Veins. 



The Cook veins traverse a sharp high ridge three miles northwest from Chntonville. One 

 of the veins was worked by the Peru Company, many years since ; but as it was only two feet 

 wide, it became too expensive after working it to the depth of fifty feet, and it was abandoned. 

 Afterwards the owner, Mr. Cook, in attempting to lay open this vein by a transverse section 

 through the hill, discovered three other veins running nearly parallel with the old one, making 

 in all four veins, with the following amount of width : one of two feet ; one of three ; another 

 of six ; and lastly, one of thirteen feet. Their general relation to each other, and to the rock, 



appears in the anne.xed diagram, fig. 80. The wide vein 

 is only five feet west of the narrow and inconsiderable vein, 

 which had been explored for several years. The discovery 

 of these veins was made by a transverse section spoken 

 of above. And here it is proper to remark, that in opening 

 mines, sections crossing their strike ought always to be 

 made, especially when it is probable that others exist in 

 the vicinity ; and besides the chances of discovery, this mode of opening facilitates drainage, 

 and the raising and removing of the ore. Sinking perpendicular shafts, or following a mass 

 in the direction of its strike, generally results in loss and disappointment. 



