52 ECONOMICAL MINERALOGY. 



and in some places with blende and galena. The vein is from two to three feet wide, and a 

 copious spring flows near its junction with the marsh below. The mine was opened many 

 years since, and has been worked again within a few years, but very little lead ore has been 

 obtained.* 



Washington County. Galena was found in the impure limestone in White-Creek, in the 

 year 1823 or 1824. The locahty has been examined by Mr. Mather, who represents the ore 

 as lying in small strings and bunches in the rock ; and he adds, that the indications on the 

 surface are such as to justify the belief that it will be explored at some future time ; but it 

 is doubtful whether it would be a profitable investment of capital. It has the same geological 

 position and relations as the mines in the coimties of Columbia and Dutchess, and the ore 

 is said also to contain a small proportion of silver.! 



Such are the mines of lead ore at present known in this State. Upon a review of all the 

 information that we possess, truth compels me to say, that the sanguine hopes that a few years 

 since were entertained in regard to them, are far from being realized. 



Sui-PHURET OF Zinc, or Blende. 



From the preceding accoimt of our lead mines, it will be observed that the sulphuret of 

 zinc is a very common associate of galena ; indeed, the latter is seldom found in any consi- 

 derable quantity without the former. The only ore of zinc heretofore credited to this State, 

 is the sulphuret. This, however, is not found in such quantity as to lead to its use for ob- 

 taining the metal. Moreover, this ore is confessedly difficult of reduction, and is not the one 

 from which the metallic zinc is usually obtained. I shall, therefore, reserve the notice of this 

 mineral, and its localities, for the succeeding part of this work. 



Sulphuret of Copper, or Copper Pyrites. 

 The remarks made in regard to the sulphuret of zinc, are generally applicable to this spe- 

 cies. It is most usually associated with galena. But it has nowhere been found in sufficient 

 abundance to warrant its introduction into the catalogue of our useful minerals. It will be 

 treated of hereafter. 



♦ Mather. New-York Geological Reports, 1840. t New-York Geological He-ports, 1811. 



