No. 161.] 
ai 
iron which frequently breaks by a blow; while an iron consisting 
of 100 phosphorus and 10,000 iron, can not be bent to a right an- 
gle.* 
In other specimens of specular iron from this county, are found 
imperfect crystals of sulphate of barytes. The power of this mi- 
neral as a Jiux is such that these ores cannot be advantageously 
used in the common bloomery process; but its occurrence would 
probably be no objection to their use in the furnace. 
Kearney and Parish Ore Beds, These are beds composed chief- 
ly of red iron ore, situated about four and a half miles south-west 
of the village of Gouverneur. Although they are distinguished by 
the names above given, they are not more than 80 or 100 rods dis- 
tant from each other, and are undoubtedly parts of one vast de- 
posite. Some idea of its extent may be formed from the fact that 
the part opened by Mr. Parish is upwards of 500 feet, and through- 
out this whole distance ore of good quality may be obtained. The 
hill in which it occurs is from forty to fifty feet in height; and the 
strata of ore, which seem to be nearly horizontal, are overlaid by 
rocks belonging to the sandstone series. The boundaries of the 
deposite have not yet been ascertained, but from appearances which 
are every where presented, there can be little doubt that it extends 
over a surface, of several thousand acres. 
The ore at this locality is of a brownish red colour, with a mix- 
ture of steel grey. It has a compact texture, and usually a dull 
earthy aspect. Sometimes its structure approaches to slaty. It 
is often so hard as to give sparks with steel. Its specific gravity 
is 4.855. Frequently it is associated with the micaceous variety 
which soils strongly, and is known among the miners by the name 
of black lead. The variety called iron froth is said to be also as^ 
sociated with that now described, as well as the sonaewhat trouble- 
some mineral called iron flint.j 
Analysis of the Red Oxide of Iron from the Kearney Ore Bed. 
Peroxide of iron, 96.52 
Silica, alumina, &c 3.48 
100.00 
Proportion of metallic iron, 66.92 in 100. 
* Traits de Chimie appliqu^e aux arts, par M. Dumas, iii. 66. I quote from Dumas 
as I have not yet had an opportunity of consulting the work of Karsten. 
t See a paper by Mr. Finch on the Geology and Mineralogy of St. Lawrence county, 
in Silliman's Journal, xix. 220, 
