Bog Ore, 



57 



cellent brown oxide of iron, for the supply of some of his furnaces 

 in Massachusetts ; and he represents the bed as inexhaustible. 



Argillaceous Oxide of Iron. 



This is the most common species of iron ore in Massachusetts, 

 There are several varieties found here. On Nantucket and Martha's 

 Vineyard, particularly at Gay Head, we find the nodular, columnar, 

 mamillary, pisiform, and ochrey varieties. On the Vineyard these 

 varieties are abundant enough to be an object for the manufacturer ; 

 and during- the last war, I was told, they were employed in the fur- 

 naces on the continent. In a pond, in Sharon, has been found the 

 lenticular variety of this ore. 



Bog Ore. 



This variety of the argillaceous oxide, is far more abundant than 

 any other, and has been used extensively in the manufacture .of cast 

 iron ; for which it is chiefly adapted. In the following towns it is 

 found in large quantities : viz. Groton, North, West, and South 

 Brookfield, Carver, Hopkinton, Hardwick, New Braintree, Oakham, 

 Berlin, Sturbridge, Southbridge, Freetown, Dartmouth, Rochester, 

 Troy, Easton and Sharon ; and in the following, it exists in greater 

 or less quantities; in Middleborough, Maiden, Seekonk, Sheffield, Tem- 

 pleton, Warwick, Williamstown, Greenfield, Northampton, Spring- 

 field, Williamsburg, Dalton, Holland, Wales, Norton, Mansfield, 

 Bridgewater, Stoughton, Spencer, Gloucester, and on Martha's Vin- 

 yard ; indeed I can hardly doubt that more or less of this ore may be 

 found in nearly every town in the State. It was so common that, at 

 length I ceased to inquire for it, and the localities are so numerous 

 that I have not attempted to exhibit them all upon the Map. 



It ought to be recollected, that the process by which bog ore is de- 

 posited, is in many places now going on, particularly at the bottom 

 of ponds. The interval between one dredging and another, was so 

 variously stated to me, that I suspect it differs greatly in different pla- 

 ces. I presume, however, that it ought never to be less than twenty 

 years. But the fact, that there will be a renewal of the deposit after a 

 certain time is interesting ; because it shows that this mineral can 

 never be entirely exhausted. 



Gen. Shepard Leach, of Easton, is the most extensively engaged 

 in the iron manufactory of any man in the Commonwealth. He owns 

 one blast and three air furnaces in Easton ; one blast furnace in Fox- 

 8 



