THE MINING AND QUARRY INDUSTRY 911 



deposits of magnetite; the Clinton formation extending across the 

 central and western counties carries hematite, which is also found 

 in the crystalline strata of St Lawrence county; and the Hudson 

 river region furnishes limonite and carbonate ores. Pyrite, a 

 sulfid of iron employed for making sulfuric acid, is mined in St 

 Lawrence county. The mineral springs of the State deserve 

 mention for their varied character and economic importance. In 

 addition to the revenue obtained from tourists and health seekers, 

 the waters are shipped in large quantities to every part of the 

 country. The absence of workable coal seams from the New York 

 geologic series is noteworthy, inasmuch as the great coal fields of 

 Pennsylvania begin but a few miles south of the state line. The 

 other mineral fuels, gas and petroleum, are represented, the former 

 being found over a wide area. Among the remaining mineral 

 substances that are produced to a greater or less extent are feldspar, 

 vein quartz, glass sand, infusorial earth, metallic paint, slate 

 pigment, sienna, lead and zinc ore and carbon dioxid. 



The accompanying table gives the mineral production of New 

 York for the year 1904. The aggregate value of the products was 

 $27,766,905. There were approximately 10,000 workings (mines, 

 quarries and wells) which contributed to the output. Although 

 the conditions in some branches of the industry were not such as to 

 encourage unusual activity on the part of the producers, the results 

 exhibited by the returns indicate that on the whole substantial 

 progress was made. 



Among the notable features of the year's record was an increase 

 of about 80,000 tons in iron ore production which was the largest 

 since 1892. The outlook for continued growth of this industry 

 seems encouraging. For the last few years the resources of the 

 State have been exploited on a comparatively small scale owing to 

 the fact that the ores of other districts were more favorably situated 

 with regard to the principal markets and at the same time could be 

 more cheaply mined. The consumption of iron, however, is 

 increasing so rapidly in this country that the time can not be far 

 distant when additional sources of ore supply must be drawn upon 

 to a large extent. The Adirondack magnetite deposits undoubtedly 

 have great potential value. By a simple concentration process, as 

 now practised by the mining companies in this region, the ores can 

 be brought to a standard above the average obtained in most 

 districts; shipments ranging above 65 per cent in iron content are 

 being made to Pennsylvania furnaces. Some of the mines yield 

 low phosphorus ores that are much sought for by Bessemer steel 

 manufacturers. 



