234 Graphite of Ticonderoga. 



in width, and has been removed in some places, to the depth of 

 from ten to twelve feet, by means of chisels fixed on poles, without 

 any diminution in the productiveness of the vein. A description of 

 the mineral would be unnecessary, as the cabinet of the Institute 

 contains excellent specimens from this locality. It is separated from 

 the walls of the fissure, by a thin layer of quartz, with sometimes a 

 little feldspar, and is sometimes traversed by small seams and veins 

 of the same. The proprietors of the mines, being farmers, only de- 

 vote the time not consumed in the business of their occupation, to 

 procuring it. They were formerly accustomed to grind it in their 

 own mills, and send it in this state to market; an operation that 

 can be there performed at a comparatively trifling expense, on ac- 

 count of the great water power afforded by the "outlet" of 

 Lake George. But an individual managed to get the business of 

 preparing it in his own hands, and finding that much time was eon- 



cally termed, he hit upon a very ingenious expedient to lessen this 

 source of trouble : before milling he mixed with it a considerable 

 portion of the Crown Point iron ore, the hard angular fragments 

 of which succeeded quickly and effectually in reducing it to an uni- 

 form powder. But there exists one objection to this mode of pre- 

 paration ; it unluckily unfits it for all the purposes to which it is 

 applied in the arts. The iron ore rapidly destroys machinery 

 when applied to diminish friction ; its grittiness would render pen- 

 cils of the prepared blacklead of Ticonderoga, of little use ; cru- 

 cibles constructed of it could hardly be expected to withstand a 

 white heat ; and stoves and other iron articles blackened with it, 

 have been known in a short time to put on a dusky red. The con- 

 sequence is, that the proprietors are now obliged to send it to 

 New-York in a crude state. 



A mineral, stated to be granular graphite, is sold by a vendor of 



es, and is generally supposed to be obtained from near Rogers' 

 Rock. A specimen weighing fifteen pounds, was exhibited for 

 sale. I was fortunate enough to procure some smaller specimens, 

 at a moderate price. On my return home, entertaining some 

 doubts respecting its nature, I proceeded to examine it, and the 

 following results were obtaine d 



A large piece heated by the blowpipe, was immediately covered 



evidently acted upon by the blowpipe, partially consuming and 



