82 
[Assembly 
This ore, when properly selected, is of good quality, and yields 
in the large way fifty per cent of pig iron, of which 2,600 lbs. are 
said to yield a ion of wrought iron. I was informed by an intel- 
ligent iron smelter at Gouverneur that by a due mixture of the bog 
ore with this species, the iron was greatly improved in quality. 
The ore from the Parish and Kearney beds is usually sold at fif- 
ty cents a ton, and can be delivered at furnaces near the natural 
dam of the Oswegatchie at two dollars a ton. And should this stream 
be made navigable to Gouverneur, a mineral region of great impor- 
tance will at once be opened up. 
I should not omit to state that in my examination of the ores of 
this county, I received much aid from gentlemen residing in dif- 
ferent parts of it. To Dr. I. B. Crawe of Ogdensburgh, I am in- 
debted for several interesting specimens, and for directing me to 
some impbrtant localities. I am also under obligation to Messrs. 
Stilwell, Judson, Perkins, Gilbert, Bush, and Grant, of Ogdens- 
burgh; Messrs. Miller and Hurlbut of Morristown, and Mr. Dodge 
of Gouverneur, for the assistance which they rendered me in the 
prosecution of my inquiries. 
Lenticular Clay Iron Ore. This mineral, which is also known 
by the name of argillaceous iron ore, is generally considered as a 
variety of specular iron. It is very interesting in consequence of 
its great abundance throughout the western part of the State. It 
is said to extend in an uninterrupted stratum or layer from near 
Little Falls on the Mohawk, to thirty miles beyond the Niagara 
river. There is a single unbroken stratum of this ore 250 miles 
long and 20 miles broad, and generally from twelve to twenty 
inches thick.* According to Dr. Steel the same variety occurs in 
the county of Saratoga. 
This ore consists of lenticular or flattened grains of various si- 
zes, which apparently have been made to cohere by the pressure 
applied to the mass. Its usual colour is brownish red, its powder 
being more red. It is very friable, soils the fingers, and has but 
little lustre. The specific gravity of a specimen from Wolcott, in 
Wayne county, is 3.740. It appears to be a decomposed carbo- 
nate of iron, and is similar to those ores called mines douceSj by 
the French.! The infiltration of water, acting in a slow and im- 
* Silliman's Journal, vm. 196, 
t Berthier, Traits des Efsais par la Voi^ Seche, ii. 256. 
