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



that iron ore abounds in several parts of ibis range of primitive rocks, 

 and if tbe iron works of Rossie should be resumed, the expense of 

 procuring ore would probably be much less than was formerly in- 

 curred. 



At Judge Streeter's farm in the town of Rossie, two miles from 

 Oxbow, the following minerals occur. White limestone, extending 

 over two hundred acres. It is quarried, but not advantageously, as 

 only the blocks near the surface of the ground are obtained. Glas- 

 sy tremolite. Graphite in small plates. Coccolite. White augite 

 in imperfect crystals. Zoisite, of this mineral I found only one spe- 

 cimen in a stone wall. 



The mine from which the iron works of Rossie were supplied 

 with ore, is situated one mile south of the road between Antwerp 

 and Gouverneur, at a distance of seven miles south west from the 

 latter village. The following minerals may be obtained. 



1. Red iron froth. This occurs massive, but usually forms a coat- 

 ing to the other varieties of ore. It has sometimes been mixed with 

 oil, and used as a paint ; it has then a purple tint, very pleasing to 

 the eye. At Rossie it has been applied to some buildings, and the 

 color is very durable. This species of iron ore stains very strongly. 

 The sheep of the vicinity are partial to lying in the mine, and their 

 fleece becomes stained of a deep red. It is said to be difficult to 

 free their wool from this color. They exhibit the singular appear- 

 ance of a flock of red sheep. A man who was formerly employed 

 in the mine, said that the clothes of the workmen were dyed in a 

 similar way. 



2. Micaceous specular iron ; called black lead by the miners. In 

 thin layers, sometimes lining small cavities. It is composed of thin 

 laminae, or scales of shining metallic lustre; color bluish black. 



3. Compact protoxide of iron. 



4. Red oxide of iron. 



5. Spathose iron ore, in small quantities. 



6. Iron flint or EisenKiesel; of a dull red color 5 excessively 

 hard. Mixed with the other varieties of ore ; sometimes so abun- 

 dant as to cause great labor to the miners. It requires to be careful- 

 ly separated. 



7. Sulphuret of iron, disseminated in some parts of the rock, which 

 then becomes of a dark yellowish brown color. Water passing over 

 it decomposes the pyrites, and there is formed, 



8. Sulphate of iron. 



