350 GEOLOGY OF THE SECOND DISTRICT. 



Concluding Remarks on the Iron Ores of St. Lawrence. 



The iron ores of St. Lawrence counly belong, it will be observed, to three different kinds 

 or species ; the specular, the magnetic, and the bog ore. The first is found in many places, 

 but quite limited in extent. Tlie Parish and Kearney, and the Tate and Policy beds, are 

 large and important, and capable of supplying ore to any amount. The Parish and Kearney 

 beds in reality belong to one mass ; and the indications in that neighborhood show that the 

 beds may be opened at several different places, in addition to those from which the ore is now 

 raised. 



In these four beds or veins mentioned above, not so much danger is to be apprehended of 

 exhausting the ore, as at Edwards, an account of which has been given. 



The magnetic ores being confined to the extreme southeast part of the county, in a region 

 which is unsettled and not well exjDlorcd, I am not able to give an opinion of their true value. 

 Much depends upon the facilities of intercourse with a market. It is certain that before they 

 can be made valuable, roads of a durable kind will have to be constructed. The face of the 

 country is favorable to enterprise on every other consideration. With a good road, it appears 

 a feasible project to bring out the magnetic ores, after they have been separated from earthy 

 matter. In this state, they would be important to the furnaces and forges now in operation 

 at several places ; and in particular they might be added with great advantage to the specular 

 and bog ores, either for castings or bar iron. The quality of the iron will not only be improved, 

 but the whole can be worked with greater economy in fuel. 



As to the quantity of iron ore in the southeastern townships, I have no hesitation in saying 

 that it is inexhaustible. The Chamont ores in particular, together with other veins in the 

 immediate vicinity, are remarkably developed, and they will become richer and more valuable 

 as they are explored. The deeper the bed is worked, the richer is the ore, and the easier 

 will it work either in a forge or furnace. 



The above remarks are intended to show that this county possesses large resources for the 

 iron business ; that many advantages accrue from the possession of the several kinds of ore 

 which have been mentioned, for the purpose of mixing, so as to adapt them to the qualities of 

 the iron it is wished to make or produce. It is rare that such a combination of circumstances 

 exist for the production of this important article, in a territory no larger than this county. 



Rensselaerite. 



This substance, usually known as soapsfone, was specifically separated from that rock early 

 in the survey ; and inasmuch as it forms large masses, greater by far than most other mine- 

 rals, it appeared proper to describe it as a rock, rather than a body belonging to mineralogy 

 proper. In this respect, however, it may be considered as analogous to hornblende, lime- 

 stone, and a variety of other substances, which may be placed with propriety in cidier depart- 

 ment. They are both simple minerals, and rocks. The geologist describes them, because 



