b NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



By the present investigation it is hoped to anticipate, so far as 

 may be, the need for a practical guide to the development of these 

 deposits. With the aid of a legislative appropriation, specially 

 granted for the purpose, it has been possible to perform a series of 

 exploratory tests with the diamond drill and, from the results thus 

 secured, to gain for the first time a general view of the ore dis- 

 tribution over a considerable section of the Clinton belt. A detailed 

 account of this work is included in the report. 



The resources of the Clinton formation, known to exist within 

 easy reach of mining operations, are so extensive that they seem 

 to offer a promise of increased commercial importance for the 

 future. The principal handicap to the use of the ores, hitherto, 

 has been their relatively low iron content — from 35 to 45^. 

 But with the rapidly growing demand made upon other eastern 

 mining fields — which has been reflected by a steady falling of¥ 

 in the quality of the product in most cases — its effect is now much 

 less apparent than formerly and will be subject, doubtless, to 

 further reduction. A factor of considerable importance, also, in 

 this connection is the fluxing nature of the Clinton ores, which 

 counterbalances to an appreciable extent their deficiency of iron 

 when used in the furnace. 



Because of the unusual interest which is being manifested in the 

 deposits, it has been deemed best to make the results of the investi- 

 gation public at an early date. To that end some matters of more 

 remote economic application have received scant attention or have 

 been omitted altogether from the discussion, though they might 

 properly come within the scope of the report. The recent field 

 work and exploration have brought out much that is new concern- 

 ing Clinton stratigraphy and shown the need for a more thorough 

 Study of the New York section, to our knowledge of which little 

 has been added since the reports of Hall and Vanuxem. The rela- 

 tions of the formation to its associates, particularly, are open to 

 inquiry. For the present nothing further can be done than to 

 indicate some important corrections and to record observations on 

 which such restudy may be based. 



For cooperation in the preparation of the report it is desired to 

 express grateful acknowledgment to the mining and development 

 enterprises and owners of ore properties, who have always given 

 a ready response to inquiries and have extended many other courte- 

 sies during the field and office work. The report has specially 

 benefited by the assistance of Mr Charles A. Borst of Clinton, who 



