THE MINING AND QUARRY INDUSTRY lOI 



seldom entirely free froni inclusions of other minerals. The ore 

 is of non-Bessemer quality, suitable for making basic and foundry 

 irons. Analyses show the presence of titanium in very small 

 quantity. 



The existence of ore is indicated by outcrop and magnetic read- 

 ings at various points to the east and west of the shaft on the line 

 of the main deposit. Little exploration has been done, however, 

 outside the present workings. 



Benson mines. The reopening of the Benson mines if carried 

 out according to present plans will add materially to the productive 

 iron ore resources of the State. Though yielding an ore that re- 

 quires concentration, the deposits are of such size and so favorably 

 situated for operation that they could readily furnish a very large 

 annual output. 



The mines are in the town of Clifton, southeastern St Lawrence 

 county, on the Carthage branch of the Rome, Watertown & Ogdens- 

 burg railroad. They were last worked during the years 1889-93 

 by the Magnetic Iron Ore Co. of New York city, who also operated 

 for a time the magnetite mines at Jayville, 14 miles west of the 

 Benson mines. The company erected a mill on the property and 

 about 150,000 tons of high grade concentrates were shipped to 

 Pennsylvania furnaces for making Bessemer and foundry irons. It 

 is a matter of interest that these shipments represent probably the 

 first successful attempt to treat a low grade impure ore so as to 

 yield a Bessemer product. 



In his report, Survey of the Third Geological District, Emmons 

 mentions deposits of magnetite situated on the Oswegatchie river 

 in the southeastern part of St Lawrence county and states that 

 large quantities of ore had been taken from this locality to Canton 

 for reduction. From the accompanying description of the deposits 

 it seems likely that the present Benson mines are referred to, though 

 they lie several miles south of the Oswegatchie near the head waters 

 of Little river. Little was done, however, toward active exploita- 

 tion until the extension of the railroad into the region in 1889. 



The ore body outcrops in a ridge extending about i^ miles in 

 a northeast and southwest direction and rising several hundred feet 

 above the river. Its width is stated by Smock to range from 800 

 to 1500 feet. Drill holes have penetrated to a depth of 180 feet 

 without passing through the body. Development work has been 

 confined to the superficial portion, the ore being removed by open 

 cast methods. The quarry face is 1500 feet long and 30 feet high. 



