22-1 Miscellaneous Notices of Mineral Localities, <^e. 



so much difficulty. This line runs nearly east and west, just 

 upon the southern margin of the pond, and we found that 

 where it approaches the nearest to the pond, there was a Va- 

 riation of 30°, as shown by back objects. On setting the 

 compass only two or three rods backwards or forwards, on 

 the line, however, the variation almost entirely vanished.. 

 This showed us that the magnetic mass, that produced the 

 variation, could not be far removed from the line, either 

 north or south ; for had it been at a considerable distance, 

 the removal of the compass a few rods either east or west, 

 could not materially have affected the variation ; since the 

 radius of a large circle, for a considerable number of degrees, 

 differs so little from the secant. We removed the compass 

 one or two rods to the north, and run a line parallel to that 

 above named, so as even to enter a little distance into the 

 pond, where the water is highest. Here the variation was 

 even greater than upon the first line ; so that the attracting 

 mass must lie north of that first line. Probably it lies just 

 in the edge of the pond ; and I have no hesitation in saying, 

 that a circle, described with a radius of two rods, upon the 

 point where the greatest variation was noticed, would em- 

 brace the ferruginous mass that here disturbs the needle ; 

 nor is there much reason to doubt but that mass is native 

 iron. And whoever has observed how large a mass of iron 

 it requires to turn aside the needle of a compass, at the dis- 

 tance of one or two rods, will presume that the mass here 

 deposited must be a large one. The spot I have been des- 

 cribing is covered with trees and thick underbrush, and the 

 moss and rubbish almost entirely hide the rocks underneath. 

 The bottom of the pond is sphagnous : and perhaps it 

 might be necessary partially to drain it,, which is not difficult. 

 Whoever will be at the trouble and expense of removing the 

 brush, moss and soil, at this spot, under the direction of Mr. 

 Burrall, or Dr. Pveed, will, I have little doubt, be abundantly 

 rewarded by the discovery of a mass of native iron. 



On seeing this pond, and considering this locality of native 

 iron on its margin, the enquiry forces itself on the mind, may 

 it not be the crater of an extinct volcano 1 But I could per- 

 ceive not the least indication of any igneous action. 



Maj. Burrall presented me with a small specimen of the 

 native iron, whose characters correspond exactly to those 

 given in the 12th vol. of this journal ; but it furnishes no ad- 

 ditional information. 



