ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY. 359 



Another vein crossing the Coal hill, is called the Robinson vein. It has been explored less, 

 and the impression among miners is that it is too unimportant to be worked. Its direction is 

 S. 75"^ 45' E. Its gangue is similar to that of the veins already described. 



During the last two years, circumstances have induced the proprietors of tlie two most 

 important veins to cease working them. They have however been worked partially by the 

 laborers who had been previously employed, and it has been said that they have thus far 

 worked them at a profit. 



In addition to the above mentioned veins of lead, others have been discovered in different 

 parts of the county. The first claiming notice, is called the Wilson vein. It is in the north 

 part of Gouverneur. Its gangue is calcareous spar, or rather the vein itself is in primary 

 limestone ; and though it pursues a direct course nearly east and west, yet its walls are not 

 well formed. It occurs in masses or bunches, with occasionally an uninterrupted continua- 

 tion of the ore. It may be traced half a mile, by small bunches of lead upon the surface. 

 It is not, however, hkely to prove important. 



Another vein exists at Mineral point on Black lake. Its course is east and west, with a 

 gangue of calcareous spar. Among the veins which present some prospect of being valuable, 

 this is'one. It is, however, situated upon low ground, and in the immediate neighborhood 

 of the lake, so that some additional expense would be required to work the mine. The ore 

 at this mine is finely crystallized, and it has furnished some fine specimens of cubic crystals. 



In the southeastern part of the county, several lead veins have been discovered, but none 

 are important, or of any value. It may, however, be useful to state a few facts connected 

 with them : 



1. The Leroy vein, inns N. 28° E. It is a mere string, or narrow vein. 



2. The Pitcairn vein, runs N. 37° E. 



3. The GarUc vein, runs N. 43° E. 



The surface rock is gneiss. The Pitcairn vein is in primary limestone, or that variety which 

 is mixed largely with serpentine. It is, however, scarcely an inch in width, and never would 

 have been noticed without the aid of the high excitement which existed during the lead specu- 

 lation in this county. 



There are several other veins in this county, partaking of the character of those just 

 described. I have not, however, been able to obtain facts which are of any importance in a 

 scientific or practical point of view. It will be observed that the richest and most important 

 lead veins run in directions nearly east and west ; and the farther they depart from this direc- 

 tion, the poorer they are. On the contrary, all the iron veins in St. Lawrence, Clinton, Frank- 

 lin and Essex counties, pursue a course nearly north and south ; and those in general are the 

 richest and most important, whose general direction approaches the nearest to this course, 

 while those whose course is easterly and westerly have rarely been worked : and without 

 fear of conveying a false impression, I may say that those iron veins only are important 

 whose strike differs but a few degrees from a north and south direction. These facts are, 

 however, only confirmatory of what has long been known in the mining districts of Europe. 



