26 Mineralogy of New York. 



The magnetic ore however is most extensively diffused and most 

 highly valued. It abounds in the counties of Essex and Clinton 

 on the north, and Orange and Putnam on the south. The spec- 

 ular iron " is found exclusively in the northern part of the state, 

 principally in St. Lawrence County, where it seems to take the 

 place of the magnetic iron, which prevails in the adjoining coun- 

 ties." The argillaceous ore, a lenticular variety, is described as 

 constituting two distinct parallel beds in the western part of the 

 state, extending from Herkimer near its centre to the Genesee 

 River. The beds are usually about twenty feet apart, and one 

 to two and a half feet thick. The brown hematitic iron ore, or 

 Limonite, is mostly confined to Dutchess County, where it ap- 

 pears to be "a part of the great series of deposits which has been 

 traced with little interruption in a nearly northerly direction 

 through the states of Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont." 

 —p. 53. 



The beds of magnetic iron are some of the most remarkable 

 in the world. The Stirling mine in Orange County covers a 

 surface of more than thirty acres, and the whole deposit of ore 

 is supposed to be full three miles in length ; and this is one of a 

 number of equal extent in this county, and others to the north. 

 The ore from the Stirling mine affords about 50 per cent, in the 

 blast furnace ; and that from Long mine, in Orange County, af- 

 fords 62 per cent, of iron in the large way. 



The " steel ore" of Duane, Franklin County, was examined 

 by Dr. Beck, who found it no way different from common mag- 

 netic iron ; and he expresses his doubts whether the steel obtain- 

 ed from it is sufficiently uniform in texture for good cutting in- 

 struments. 



The specular iron ore of the Kearney and Parish ore beds, St. 

 Lawrence County, yield about 50 per cent, of pig iron, " about 

 twenty six hundred pounds of which yield a ton of wrought 

 iron. The quality of the iron is improved by adding bog ore." 



The lenticular or argillaceous ore yields from 30 to 35 per 

 cent, of pig iron, which is mostly used for large castings. Prof. 

 Beck remarks that the result is improved by mixing with the 

 ore, bog or magnetic iron. It generally effervesces freely with an 

 acid, indicating the presence of carbonate of lime. A specimen 

 from Wolcottville afforded Dr. Beck, peroxyd of iron 51.50, car- 

 bonate of lime 24.50, carbonate of magnesia 7.75, silica 6.00, 



