20 ECONOMICAL MINERALOGY. 



to Dr. Emmons, has mixed with it a greenish mineral, resembling phosphate of lime and 

 hornblende. 



In the same district are the Conger Mine and the Sailly and AveriVs Mine, which, however, 

 do not require particular descriptions. 



Franklin County. Although the magnetic oxide of iron has not heretofore been found 

 in such abundance in this county as in some of those which are contiguous to it, several 

 deposits are already knowTi to exist, and there can be no doubt that others will hereafter be 

 discovered. 



In the vicinity of Malone, a bed of this ore was opened many years since, from which 

 several hundred tons of good ore have Ijeen obtained. A fine deposit is noticed by Dr. Em- 

 mons, as occurring near Miller's in the town of Franklin, and another on a ridge near the 

 outlet of Tupper's lake. 



The Deer River ore has a resinous lustre, and its masses are intermixed with hornblende. 

 Its gangue is coarsely crystallized hornblende, accompanied with large imperfect garnets, 

 and some black mica. 



The Duane Bed is represented as a mixture of coarse and fine ore. It is a rich ore, inter- 

 mixed with particles of granular greenish-white feldspar. 



But the most interesting ore of iron in this county, is tliat which is known as the " Steel 

 ore." The deposit from which this is obtained, is situated in the Old Military township. No. 

 9, adjoining the town of Duane. The ore is of a black colour, is strongly attracted by the 

 magnet, and possesses polarity. The associates are principally hornblende, quartz and feld- 

 spar. There is considerable variation in the width of the vein. It has been opened for several 

 years. 



I analyzed this ore some years since, and found that it did not differ from common magnetic 

 oxide of iron. It has also been assayed, as we are informed, by Thomas B. Clemson, Esq. 

 who gives the following as the result :* 



Iron and Scoria, 15.42 



Iron alone, 1 2 . 90 



The part possessing the properties of steel, 64 . 50 



This ore possesses considerable interest, from the fact that it is said to yield, directly, by 

 the process of smelting, a substance possessing all the properties of manufactured steel. By 

 some, these properties are thought to be inherent in the ore itself, while Dr. Emmons has 

 advanced the opinion that the iron obtained from the ore is converted into steel during the 

 process of tempering.! 



* MS. communication from James C. Duane, Esq. of Schenectady. See also the Report of the Commissioners to survey the 

 route of the Ogdensburgh and Champlain rail-road. Documents of the New-York Legislature^ 1841. 



t See Dr. Emmons' Report on the "Steel Ore" to the Assembly of the State of New-York, March 10th, 1841. Also the com- 

 munication <- r B. S. Robcrls, in the Report of the Commissioners to suiTey the Ogdensburgh and Champlam rail-road. Documents 

 of the New-York Legislature^ 1841. 



