Mineralogy and Geology of St. Lawrence Co., N. Y. 223 



wards Rossie, the hornblende is tlie chief ingredient in the rock, 

 sometimes mixed with felspar, or with quartz; sometimes with both. 



The rock is usually slaty, and may generally be called Horn- 

 blende Slate. The stratification runs nearly east and west. The stra- 

 ta are frequently contorted, sometimes twisted in all directions. An in- 

 stance of this may be seen twenty yards north of the village of Rossie. 



Small veins of granite traverse the hornblende slate. Mica scarce- 

 ly occurs, and its nearly total absence, forms a striking feature in this 

 range wherever it has been examined. 



This part of the chain of primitive rocks near Rossie, forms a 

 range of hills which are usually a quarter of a mile across, and divi- 

 ded from each other by valleys of greater or less breadth. The 

 hills have an elevation of about one hundred and fifty feet, but as the 

 sides are steep, and the road crosses nearly at right angles, it makes 

 travelling very difficult. 



Four miles from Hammond there is a ledge of dolomite, or coarse 

 granular magnesian carbonate of lime. It is greyish white, and con- 

 tains small plates of yellow mica, and partiples of graphite. We al- 

 so observed crystals of white augite, but they were on the surface of 

 the rock, and much weathered. 



The village of Rossie is situated in a valley on the Indian river. 

 There are extensive iron works, owned by Geo. Parrish, Esqr. but 

 they are not at present in operation. I saw specimens of iron ore on 

 the bank, but as I afterwards visited the mine, shall hereafter notice 

 the varieties. 



In a field, a quarter of a mile east of the iron works, is a bed of 

 white limestone; it contains condrodite, disseminated in grains through 

 the whole rock ; color bright yellow, brown yellow, and green. 

 Phosphate of lime in small sky blue crystals. Brown mica. Flu- 

 ate of lime, purple color, in calcareous spar. Automalite or spinelle 

 zincifere in minute octohedral crystals. 



An attempt was made to use this limestone as a flux in the iron 

 ore furnace, but the infusibility of the condrodite, rendered it quite 

 refractory. The stone used in lining the furnace, was transition 

 quartz rock. 



In several of the hills near Rossie, small veins of schorl occur in 

 the granitic rocks, it is not well crystallized. Magnetic iron ore is 

 found three miles to the west, and one mile from Indian river. It is 

 said to be abundant. Continued showers of rain, and more inviting 

 objects of inquiry prevented a visit to the locality^ It is probable 



