l8 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



much like the ore bodies found near Crown Point that have been 

 mentioned as inckided in metamorphosed sediments, the ore being 

 relatively rich but pyritic. 



An undertaking which may lead to important developments for 

 the iron-mining industry has been initiated at Lake Sanford with 

 reference to the great bodies of titaniferous magnetites in that 

 vicinity. Situated in one of the remotest and wildest portions of 

 the Adirondacks, the locality was sought out in the early part of 

 the last century by pioneer iron workers who were attracted by the 

 reported richness of the ore and the ease with which it could be 

 obtained. Mining was begun soon after 1830. The ore was 

 smelted in a small charcoal furnace and the product hauled by 

 wagon to Lake Champlain for shipment. Apparently the first at- 

 tempts at making iron from the unusual ore were successful, for 

 operations were afterward expanded by the erection of a larger 

 furnace and a settlement of some size grew up about the works. In 

 1858 the industry was abruptly discontinued owing to causes that 

 have been variously explained. Since that time practically nothing 

 has been done toward resumption of activity until the transfer of 

 ownership, which took place recently, brought the property into the 

 hands of experienced mining men. During the past summer a 

 large amount of exploratory work with the diamond drill has been 

 accomplished and the results have gone ahead of expectations, 

 showing that previous estimates of the magnitude of the deposits 

 nuist be greatly enlarged. The Lake Sanford ore body in particu- 

 lar is of enormous size; the available resources within a short dis- 

 tance from the surface exploitable by quarry methods, run up into 

 the millions of tons. This ore carries from 50 to over 60 per cent 

 iron and except for occasional stringers is quite free from rock. 

 Rich magnetite has been uncovered also in a new locality north of 

 Calamity brook. The one drawback to the utilization of the ore 

 is the presence of titanium, which characterizes deposits of this 

 type associated with gabbros and anorthosites. It is hoped, how- 

 ever, that some solution of the difficulty will be foimd whereby the 

 ore will be marketable. Experiments with magnetic separation 

 are said to have been successful in making a product with a low 

 titanium content, and it is possible that a portion of the crude 

 material might be used in mixture with ores from other districts. 

 The issue of the present venture is awaited with interest. 



Field work was started in the hematite district of St Lawrence 

 and Jefferson counties. In order to obtain a suitable base on which 



