304 



GEOLOGY OF THE SECOND DISTKICT. 



a, b, veins corrcspomling nearly to the dip 

 of the rock. 



Two veins only have as yet been discovered at tlie 

 opening which is called the Battie vein. A want of perfect 

 parallelism in the Cook veins may explain this fact, 

 though it is not proved that the narrow veins extend far 

 north of the opening made by Mr. Cook. They dip to the 

 east at a high angle. Their relations to the rock are ex- 

 plained by fig 81. 



About fifteen rods farther west, is another vein of iron, 

 with a (^angue of pure white flint, which I examined, and which may be traced thirty or forty 

 rods. The ore is black, and constitutes about one-third of the vein at the surface. By the 

 encoura<Temcnts which were given, this vein has also been opened, and presents favorable in- 

 dications of being a valuable deposit of ore. The presence of white flint is always regarded 

 as an important substance in the magnetic oxide, particularly as it becomes a valuable flux in 

 the process of reduction. This vein varied from four to six feet in width at the surface ; and 

 I am informed since my visit, that not only the proportion of ore increased, but the vein also 

 increased in width. 



Rutgers Vein. 



This vein is eight miles west from Clintonville, and like most of the veins in this vicinity, 

 occupies a ridge of one of the primary ranges. It has not been explored to a great extent. 

 Its appearance is lean at the surface, but no more so than many veins which, by farther pur- 

 suit, have proved to furnish an abundance of ore. The gangue or mineral matter associated 

 with the ore is very peculiar. It has a resemblance to phosphate of lime, but so peculiar, 

 that without analysis, it would be hazardous to decide. It is quite abundant, but still distinct 

 crystalline forms arc wanting. Sulphate of barytes is also occasionally mixed with the ore, 

 a substance which I have not observed at any other vein of iron in this vicinity, though it is 

 one of the constant associates of the specular oxide in St. Lawrence county. 



The whole width of the Rutgers vein is about ten feet. It pursues a parallel course with 

 the Cook and Arnold veins, and has been traced about one mile. It is probably an extensive 

 vein. It has not furnished an iron so valuable as most of the other ores ; and has therefore 

 been abandoned. 



Winter Ore. 



This ore has generally been considered to be deposited in the form of a bed, in consequence 

 of its appearing as a thick plate overspreading several square rods of the rock with which it 

 is associated ; or it appears as though it was deposited horizontally on the rock, like an over- 

 flowing melted mass of lava. The opinion that it is a bed is questionable, inasmuch as it 

 presents no phenomena really distinct from the ordinary veins of this section of country. 

 The rich layer of ore was two or three feet thick ; but it does not disappear beneath, but is 

 underlaid by rock in which the particles of ore are disseminated. The whole amount of 

 valuable ore extended forty feet in one direction, and one hundred in another. Tiie whole of 



