318 Geology of Lewis County. [June, 



clined, while above and below the strata were entirely undis- 

 turbed. 



These appearances might have been produced by impediments, 

 which may have caused the calcareous matter of which the rock 

 is composed, to be deposited unequally; or what is more proba- 

 ble, they are due to a crystaline action in the rock — a theory 

 which is strengthened by the frequent occurrence of masses of 

 calcareous spar, forming irregular veins along the lines of these 

 disturbed strata. 



This rock is frequently traversed by veins of calcareous spar, 

 and more rarely by fluor spar and the metalic sulphurets. These 

 veins are observed to pursue a course varying but little from east 

 and w^est. 



The principal locality of fluor spar is about half a mile above 

 the village of Lowville, on the south branch of the Main creek, 

 and at the foot of the first falls, not far from a neglected " silver 

 mine," and occurs in a vein about six inches wide, associated 

 with sulphuret of iron, calcareous spar, and more rarely grains of 

 galena. Its color is a bright green, and it is crystalized in small 

 cubes, which have a veiy uniform size. 



The tendency which the pyrites has to decompose, inevitably 

 destroys specimens of this mineral, if not kept from the damp at- 

 mosphere. It also was found in small quantities at the lead mine 

 at Martinsburgh. 



This lead mine occurs about one mile northwest of the village, 

 and was first discovered in 1837, by small masses of the ore being 

 turned out in plowing. Immediately examinations were made, 

 which resulted in the discovery of a vein, which appeared about 

 six inches above the surface of the rock, and was about four or five 

 inches wide, being composed of galena, with its central portion 

 made up of the white carbonate of lead. 



A contract was drawn, securing the right of working this ore 

 twelve years, for twelve hundred dollars, and a company organ- 

 ized, having at first twelve, and afterwards one hundred shares. 



There are at this place three principal veins, which have been 

 wrought; upon the most northern of these the ore was first dis- 

 covered. In this vein was found octahedral crystals of lead va- 

 riously modified, a variety of lead ore, presenting a peculiar 

 arborescent lustre when broken, and beautiful crystals of calca- 

 reous spar. At the middle vein, the rock was penetrated about 

 sixty feet, and much the same minerals procuiied as at the one 

 described, except that they had a more brilliant lustre, and the 

 crystals of spar were whiter. 



At the southern vein, and at its western extremity, blende was 

 found associated with the galena, coating sulphuret of iron, and 



