REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR I918 T.'J 



in Ulster, Orange and Sullivan counties, the Oriskany sandstone at 

 Oriskany Falls, the Potsdam sandstone on the northern, eastern and 

 southern borders of the Adirondacks and the quartz sands of the 

 Oneida lake region. It was found that the Oriskany and Potsdam 

 sandstones afford the most suitable material for making the better 

 grades of glass; the Potsdam of the northern Adirondack area 

 representing the best to be found in that formation and of 

 about the same grade as the Oriskany sandstone. Both sandstones 

 show phases which possess a loose granular habit so as to crush 

 down to sand which then can be washed. A washed sample of the 

 Oriskany showed on analysis 99.82 per cent silica and .06 ferric 

 oxide. A sample of Potsdam from the Moira-Bangor area of Franklin 

 county returned 99.54 per cent silica and .01 ferric oxide. All the 

 silica rocks investigated were adapted to ferro-silicon manufacture, 

 containing materials well within the silica requirements for that use. 



For refractory linings and for use in tube mills the Poughquag 

 quartzite and the Shawangunk grit appear most adaptable, as they 

 possess the required qualities of physical structure in addition to 

 chemical composition. It is believed the report will meet the needs 

 which have been expressed frequently by consimiers of these 

 materials. 



Salt investigation. A study of the salt deposits and industry 

 is in progress and will be completed probably during the coming 

 year. The work was inaugurated for the ptirpose of securing definite 

 information about the potash content of the rock salt and to inquire 

 in the possibilities of utilizing the waste liquors of the evaporating 

 plants for extraction of the potash. The chemical examination of 

 many samples from different localities in the salt district has shown 

 that there is only a very small proportion of the substance in the 

 salt and its extraction would not be likely to prove commercially 

 feasible. However, it has been deemed advisable to make a com- 

 prehensive report on salt resources of the State, since there has 

 been little published in regard to them since the appearance of the 

 bulletin "Salt and Gypsiun Industries in New York" in 1893. 

 Mr Harold L. Ailing is cooperating with the office in the preparation 

 of the report. Mr Ailing has also given some further attention to 

 the examination of graphite properties and products in continuation 

 of work upon which a report was rendered the year before. 



Mineral production. A statistical canvass of the mineral industries 

 for the year 19 17 was conducted by the office in cooperation with 

 the United States Geological Survey in continuation of the worl? 



