244 



DESCRIPTIVE MINERALOGY. 



Uses. This mineral is sometimes used as flux for certain ores. Some of the varieties have 

 also been employed in the manufacture of vases and other ornamental articles. 



LOCALITIES. 



Cayuga County. Fluor spar is found in small quantities in the grey sparry limestone, at 

 the quarry of the New- York Company at Auburn ; and also in the water-lime series, just 

 above the limestone on the road from Cayuga bridge to Auburn.* 



Clinton County. This mineral, in green and occasionally purple masses, is sparingly 

 disseminated in the gangue of the iron ore at the Arnold mine.t 



Genesee County. Nearly black crystals have been found in this county, but they are not 

 of frequent occurrence. 



Jefferson County. One of the most remarkable localities of fluor spar in the United 

 States, is that which occurs on the southeast bank of Muscolunge lake, in the town of Alex- 

 andria, about four miles northwest from the village of Oxbow. The mineral is in a vein of 

 considerable width, associated with calcareous spar, and running vertically or nearly so through 

 a bed of primitive limestone. Cubical crystals (Fig. 116) of various 

 sizes have been found here, some of them more than a foot in diame- 

 ter. These crystals have a greenish tint, and in small cleavages are 

 translucent. Sometimes, however, they are nearly colourless. The 

 faces of the larger ones are usually rough, but the smaller ones are 

 more perfect, and have a better finish. In consequence of the exten- 

 sive excavations which have been made for the removal of this mineral, 

 it is now difficult to obtain good crystallized specimens, and there is 

 some danger in working at the locality. Massive specimens, how- 

 ever, are abundant, and from these the octahedron can usually be obtained by cleavage. A 

 short distance north of the preceding, there is probably another vein of this mineral, as small 

 loose crystals were found in considerable abundance on the lake shore. 



Lewis County. Green and nearly transparent crystals are found in narrow veins in the 

 limestone at the falls near Lowville. They are usually in the form of cubes, rarely in octa- 

 hedrons. They are associated with calcareous spar, iron pyrites, and rarely galena. The 

 specimens are liable to injury from the decomposition of the iron pyrites, and should be covered 

 with gum arable or copal, to protect them from the action of the atmosphere. The same 

 mineral is occasionally met with, similarly associated, at Martinsburgh in this county. 



Monroe County. Cubical crystals, transparent and colourless, or with a beautiful bluish 

 tint, have been found in cavities in limestone near Rochester. These crystals are sometimes 

 an inch in diameter, but they are usually much smaller. They have an exquisite finish. 



Niagara County. Fluor spar occurs in small colourless cubes at Lockport, where it is 

 associated with the calcareous and pearl spar, celestine, etc., which have rendered this region 



• Vanoxem. New-York Geohgkai Reports, 1839. 



t Emmons. Ibid. 1840. 



