142 



ON THE TOPOOIIAPIIY AND GEOLOGY 



posed of between G7 and 68 per cent, of metallic iron, according to the analysis of 

 Professor Chandler, of the Colnrabia College School of Mines, of I^ew York. Thou- 

 sands of tons lie scattered over the surface or embedded in the soil, only requiring to 

 be picked up. There is no section exposed whereby its character can be ascertained, 

 and without excavation it would be hazardous to venture an opinion as to whether 

 it is a vein or simply a lenticular mass. The latter seems the more probable 

 hypothesis, since the outcrop is so limited longitudinally, and judging from 

 analogy with similar masses in the United States. Beyond the hill, all signs 

 of metal disappear on the surface, except such stray blocks as can with a greater 

 show of })robability be attributed to the hill itself. But for all practical purposes, 

 the Iron Mountain is an inexhaustible mine. Its advantages are enhanced by 

 its proximity to a navigable stream, the nearness of limestone and by its being in the 

 heart of a great forest where unlimited supplies of hard Avood can be made to yield 

 all the fuel required for furnaces. 'Nov is this hill the only deposit of the mineral ill 

 the vicinity. I visited one other about three miles distant, where the quantity of iron 

 was still greater but, thoagh equally well situated with reference to flax and fuel, its 

 facilities for extraction arc not so good. It is on the opposite (north) side of the 

 Maimon Valley, in the hills, and where a railroad could be made without difliculty to 

 the river ; but the three miles, more or less of land carriage, though trifling, is a com- 

 parative disadvantage. It is a curious sight to see, as in that case, a mountain stream, 

 tumbling and splashing down a steep ravine, under, around and over great boulders, 

 many of them several feet in diameter, and all of them solid, black ironstone of the 

 finest quality. Although I was told that other equally valuable " iron mines," to the 

 number of three oV four, were known in the vicinity, I could obtain no guides to 

 them or reliable information concerning them. I spent a couple of days in fruitless 

 search, accompanied by persons who professed to know them, and finally abandoned 

 the hunt, with the impression that they did not exist. It is not impossible however 

 that I was purposel}'^ misled by my guides, good hearted but ignorant people who, 

 not understanding the oliject of my visit, may have become suspicious. 



In the same vicinity are some " copper mines " which have been known for genera- 

 tions. They are two or three miles to the southeast of the Hatillo, on top of a bare, 

 grass-covered hill from which an excellent view of the north flank of the range can 

 be obtained. The rock is a talcose slate of a light yellowish bi'own color and is 

 stained everywhere with copper. Little grains and sometimes even good sized lumps 

 of green and blue carbonates of copper fill cavities, but not the most remote 

 approach to vein structure exists. Here have been the most extensive mining 



