Geology of Massachusetts. 57 
All these are in mica slate or granite; or they pass from the one 
rock into the other. 
In Southampton. 
The vein in the northern part of this town has attracted more at- 
tention than any other in the region, and has been several times de- 
scribed. It is six or eight feet wide, where it is has been explored, 
and traverses granite and mica slate, the matrix or gangue contain- 
ing the ore, being a mixture of quartz and sulphate of barytes. It 
has been opened forty or fifty feet deep, in several places, and masses 
of ore were dug out from half an inch to a foot in diameter. As the 
vein descends almost perpendicularly into the rock, water soon ac- 
cumulated in such quantities, as induced the proprietors to attempt 
reaching the vein by a horizontal drift or adit, from the bottom of 
the hill to the east. ‘This was a prodigious undertaking, as the open- 
ing must be carried nearly a quarter of a mile into the solid rock. 
Tt was persevered in however, at a great expense, for a distance of 
nine hundred feet, when one of the principal miners having died, and 
the price of lead having fallen two or three hundred per cent, all op- 
erations were suspended, and I believe the proprietors wish to dis- 
pose of the mine. Had they continued this drift a few feet farther, 
there is every probability that the principal vein would have been 
struck, from one hundred and fifty to two hundred feet below the 
surface. Perhaps, however, the work cannot be successfully and 
profitably resumed, until the market shall cease to be glutted with 
lead from Missouri; but as there can be little doubt, that immense 
quantities of ore may be obtained at this spot, it may then probably be 
explored with advantage. I do not doubt, however, that those who 
first examined this mine were mistaken in the opinion, that this vein 
extends from Montgomery to Hatfield, a distance of twenty miles. 
Lead may indeed _ be found at intervals along a line connecting those 
places. But I have every reason to suppose, that it proceeds from 
several distinct and independent veins. 
The principal ore above described is the sulphuret; but there have 
been found here also, the carbonate, sulphate, molybdate, muriate 
and phosphate of lead, along with the sulphuret of zinc, pyritous cop- 
per, and fluor spar. Mineralogists will greatly regret, that mining 
operations have been suspended here, because they were anticipa- 
ting the development of rich specimens of these and other minerals. 
Vol. XXII.—No. 1. 8 
