l6 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



the public in a timely manner authentic information as to the dis- 

 tribution and economic utilization of our mineral resources. In 

 addition to many details of new discoveries and developments, the 

 recent issue contains a much fuller discussion of certain subjects 

 than was given in the preceding volume. The statistics of produc- 

 tion, likewise, have been amended, with the inclusion of returns for 

 1905. As a supplement to the text a list has been prepared of the 

 individuals or finns which are actively engaged in mining and 

 quarry operations. 



There are about 30 different mineral materials occurring in the 

 State, that have importance as a basis for commercial production, 

 and the combined value of their product, according to the reports 

 received last year, may be placed approximately at $35,000,000. 

 This sum represents only a part of the actual wealth that accrues 

 annually to the State from the exploitation of its mineral resources, 

 since the first products upon which the valuation is calculated are 

 susceptible of further elaboration and thus lend support to many 

 manufacturing industries. 



Iron ores. The investigation of the iron ore deposits has 

 received such attention as could be commanded. The field work in 

 the Adirondack region has been carried into Essex, Washington 

 and St Lawrence counties and the portion of Clinton county not 

 covered during the season of 1905. Nearly all of the mines in this 

 section have now been visited and a large amount of material 

 assembled for office study. It may be noted that exploration in the 

 iron mines of this region has been active during the year, aft'ording 

 exceptional opportunities for collection of data on the geology and 

 occurrence of the ores. Acknowledgment is due to those engaged 

 in such enterprises for much valuable assistance. 



One of the more important districts which has been under inves- 

 tigation is that of Hammondville, Essex co. These mines were 

 very productive at one time and were prominent, as well, for the 

 fine quality of their product. They were worked up to about 12 

 years ago when operations were discontinued owing to depressed 

 market conditions. The deposits are now being tested by the 

 diamond drill with the view to their reopening, should the results 

 be of sufficiently encouraging character. The ore is distributed in 

 number of bodies, varying from small bands or lenses to masses 

 of notable size, within an acid gneiss which resembles the rock 

 associated with the IMineville magnetites. An examination of the 

 district has shown that the area occupied by the ore-bearing gneiss 



