No. 161.] 
Besides the principal bed, there are two others parallel with it, 
the ores of which differ in their color, but are of nearly equal pu- 
rity. In all cases, the ore separates perfectly and freely fronn the 
walls of the bed, and is almost entirely free from foreign matters. 
The quartz which sometimes accompanies it, often has little cavi- 
ties which contain imperfect crystals of tourmaline. 
Two or three miles distant from this locality, in a westwardly 
direction, is the Palmer Ore Bed. The geological relations of this 
bed are similar in many respects to those of the former; but the 
accompanying rock is of a more crystalline character. Large 
masses of feldspar and of quartz frequently occur — mica being 
more sparingly disseminated. The bed is in the direction of the 
strata, and is from four to eight feet in width. The perpendicu- 
lar depth of the mine was, at the time when I visited it, eighty- 
eight feet. In one important particular, it differs from the Arnold 
bed, and it is that the ore is largely mixed with quartz, and is not 
bounded by a regular wall, but gradually loses itself in the accom- 
panying rock. An average specimen of this ore yielded me, 
Magnetic oxide of iron, 51.30 
Quartz, or silica, 48.70 
100.00 
In order to render the produce of this bed fit for the forge, the 
magnetic separating machine is employed. The ore with its 
gangue is first pounded by stampers worked by horse power, and 
is then introduced into a cylinder, about two and a half feet in 
diameter and five feet in length, studded with small magnets. 
As the cylinder revolves, the pure ore is taken up by the magnets, 
and then removed from them by brushes, when it falls down into 
a small trough beneath. After this process of separation, the ore 
is considered equal in value to that from the Arnold bed. It may be 
remarked, that the separation of the ore from its gangue is some- 
times effected in this district, by reducing the whole to a coarse 
powder, and then allowing a current of water to pass through it; 
by which means, the quartz and other earthy particles are carried 
away, while the pure magnetic oxide remains. This mode is more 
economical than the former, and by many practical men it is 
thought to be equally eflfective. 
[Assem, No. 161.] 4 
