THE MINING AND QUARRY INDUSTRY I9I4 41 



are supplied in sizes that usually run from 48 to 90 inches and with 

 widths up to 24 inches. The prices range from $3 for an 18 inch 

 stone to $75 or $100 for the largest sizes. 



The production at one time was valued at over $100,000 a year, 

 but within the last decade it has averaged less than $20,000. During 

 1914 the total sales of millstones and chasers were reported as 

 $12,410 as compared with $13,130, the value of the stones marketed 

 in 1913. 



MINERAL PAINT 



For the purposes of the present report only the natural mineral 

 pigments are included under this title. In addition to these ma- 

 terials, there is a production in the State of artificial pigments, 

 especially those of lead, but as the substance used in their manu- 

 facture is derived from outside sources, they have not been included 

 among the local products. 



The crude paint materials that occur within the State include 

 iron ore, ocher, shale and slate. Of the iron ores the Clinton hema- 

 tite affords an excellent base for the manufacture of metallic paint 

 and mortar color of red to brownish red colors. The beds with a 

 relatively high iron content are employed, as they possess the soft- 

 ness and uniformity of texture, as well as depth of color which are 

 requisite for such use. The ore is obtained from the mines at 

 Clinton, Oneida county, owned by C. A. Borst and from those at 

 Ontario, Wayne county, worked by the Furnaceville Iron Co. The 

 hematite from the former locality is of oolitic nature and carries 

 about 45 per cent iron. The ore from Ontario contains about 40 

 per cent iron and is known as " fossil " ore. In years past the red 

 hematite from the northern part of the State has also been em- 

 ployed, but recently this ore has not been obtainable. 



Both shale and slate from the local formations have been used 

 quite extensively for pigments. They occur in various colors de- 

 pending upon the amount and nature of the iron oxides present. 

 A large percentage of ferric oxide lends a reddish color which 

 resembles that of metallic paint. Red shale has been obtained from 

 the base of the Salina beds near Herkimer. The red slate from 

 Washington county is another material that has been quite exten- 

 sively ground for pigment. At Randolph, Cattaraugus county, beds 

 of green, brown and bluish shale occur in the Chemung formations 

 and have been utilized in the past 



Deposits of ferruginous clay, or ocher, are found in many places 

 within the State, but they are not now worked. Sienna, a dark 



