Geological Reports on the State of New York. 25 



proportion of lead, will pay a fair profit by working. The ore is re- 

 duced on the ground, or not far from the mines. The quantity of lead, 

 manufactured since the first of January, 1837, amounts to 2,029,415 

 pounds. In conducting this process, it is found that dry pine answers a 

 good purpose in smelting. It is a matter of some doubt whether it is as 

 good as coal, especially coal of the hard woods. Still, there is economy 

 in its employment under many circumstances." 



" On the Black Lake, at Mineral Point, is another mineral region of 

 some note. The principal vein, at 25 feet from the surface is 21 feet av- 

 erage width. This resembles very much the Rossie vein, and has turned 

 out some large crystals of lead, similar to those produced at the Nash vein." 



" In the other veins of galena, which have been explored to the great- 

 est extent, and which have yielded the most, there is a remarkable free- 

 dom from minerals of inferior value, or the sulphuret of zinc and iron, 

 especially the latter. This is a favorable circumstance, and accounts for 

 the great softness of the Rossie lead. This increases its value, as it is 

 more readily converted into white lead. 



" An examination of the country, in the vicinity of Rossie, must satisfy 

 any one that it has the character of a mineral region, and that there is 

 much probability that we have but just commenced in the mining busi- 

 ness, and that there are many other deposits of lead to reward explora- 

 tions." 



The sandstone of Potsdam reposes on the primary, and appears 

 as the oldest member of the transition series ; it is a very valuable 

 quarry stone for building, and for a fire stone. 



The geological structure of the opposite shores of the St. Law- 

 rence is very similar, but the strata dip in an anticlinal direction, 

 so as to form the valley in which the river runs. 



Temperature of loells, — they afford interesting evidence of the 

 state of the climate. 



"The following table exhibits the temperature of the wells and springs 

 along the junction of the transition and primitive districts. 

 " The temperature of two wells in Hermon : 



1st. 52 feet deep, — temperature, - - - 

 2d. 20 " " - . - 



"Oftwo wells in DeKalb: 



Temperature of the air 75°, July 20, 1837. 

 1st. Temperature, ----- 

 2d. 18 feet deep, — temperature, . - - 

 " Of six springs in the village of De Kalb : 



1st, 



2d, - - - - - - - . . 



Vol. xsxvi, No. 1.— Jan.-April, 1839. ' 4 . 



