58 Ores of Iron, Mangatiese, «|'f. in Vermont, 



The iron ore bed is very extensive, and will probably not 

 be exhausted for several ages. 



I proposed to Mr. T. a number of questions, in writing. 

 The following is one of them. I give you the answer in 

 his own language. Have you found ochre? " Yes, in vast 

 plenty." After showing me the substance, as it was dug 

 from the earth, he proceeded to describe how he prepared 

 it for the market. " We first break it in small pieces, then 

 put it into a large cistern, filled with water, and keep stirring 

 it, until all is dissolved ; then after allowing the sand to sub- 

 side for some moments, let it off into a second cistern ; in 

 this it stands till the paint settles to the bottom, and the top 

 is clear water ; by a two inch hole, just where the water 

 and paint meet, let off the water; then, by a large door in 

 the bottom, let off the paint into a large square cistern. Af- 

 ter lying in this a day or two, we carry it off into small flat 

 boats to dry. In order to make the paint separate com- 

 -plctely from the water, there must be a shovel full or two 

 of good lime, thrown into the cistern, in the first washing. 

 It is now yellow ochre. In order to make it brown, or red, 

 we expose it to the fire in an oven or kettle." 



I lately examined the iron works and iron ore of Pitts- 

 ford, twenty-four miles south from this place. The 'ore is 

 dug within a few feet of the spot, where it is manufactured. 

 It is chiefly an ocJirey hroivn oxide of iron, and quite friable. 

 Its fracture and texture are earthy. It soils the fingers 

 strongly. When taken from the earth, its colour resembles 

 that of yellow ochre. Exposed to the action even of a 

 small degree of heat, it loses its yellow^ hue, and assumes a 

 reddish brown colour. Mixed with borax, it fuses before 

 the blowpipe, and yields a globule of transparent glass of a 

 beautiful green colour. It occurs both in beds, and in vein^- 

 in limestone. The ore is less productive than the Benning- 

 ton ore. It yields, as I was told by the proprietor, Mr, 

 Nathan Gibbs, about 25 per cent. " or four tons of the ore 

 make one ton of iron." He informed me, that the quantity" 

 manufactured, yearly at his works, was about twenty tons of 

 bar iron, and eighty tons of cast iron, consisting of stoves, 

 potash kettles, &ic. fee. I may give you, in a future letter, 

 some account of the iron ore, manufactured at other place.': 

 in this state. 



