IRON ORES OF tihc clin'ion jt)um atio.m 65 



acre or more of ground was worked by the open-cut method, the 

 operations dating back to the year 1888. On account of the steep 

 valley slope here the overburden increases rapidly away from the 

 outcrop. The section as given by Smock follows : 



Glacial drift 18-30 feet 



Greenish gray shale. 20 inches 



Ore bed 24-30 inches 



Floor of ferruginous sandstone. 



The ore bed dips at the rate of 3 feet in 100 feet to the south- 

 west, and drainage is not so readily effected as on the east side of 

 the valley. A peculiar feature is the occurrence of slight offsets 

 which displace the bed as much as 6 inches. The ore has the same 

 general character as the Clinton oolitic bed but contains a greater 

 proportion of shaly material. 



Norton opening. This adjoins the Clinton Mills property on 

 the north. It is described by Putnam as under operation at the 

 time of his report. The ore is 21 inches thick, with shale covering. 

 An analysis of a sample from 30 tons of the ore is reported by 

 Putnam to have shown: 



Iron 39-88 



Phosphorus . 665 



Openings in town of Westmoreland. The oolitic bed con- 

 tinues north and west into the town of Westmoreland where it has 

 been worked at different places for the supply of the Kirkland and 

 Taberg furnaces. 



One was dug on the Pryer and Laughlin farms, about a mile 

 west of Kirkland, for use in the local furnace. The bed is here 18 

 inches thick. An analysis, quoted from Putnam, shows the follow- 

 ing percentages : 



Iron 42 . 9 



Phosphorus • 753 



About ^ of a mile north of the Pryer farm, across the small 

 stream that drains into the Oriskany, are the openings on the Dcrwin 

 farm and a little south of them, across the stream, the Freiberghcr 

 opening, all of which were made by the Kirkland Iron Co. Tlie 

 ore from tlic Dcrwin farm is ab<»nl \h inrhcs iliick .iml sitiiunvli.it 



