[Assembly- 
It will, however, appear in the progress of this communication, 
that although we may still be destitute of the important ores last 
mentioned, the rest are found in great abundance and generally of 
an excellent quality. Indeed in no respect, perhaps, have the re-' 
sources of the State been less understood than in regard to its ores. 
I have already gone far enough in this investigation to satisfy me 
that however extended the applications of this metal may be. we 
have the means of making ourselves independent of other States 
and countries. If this is so, it is of great importance to examine 
all those circumstances which have impeded the progress of the 
' manufacture of iron in this State. Some of these will be advert- 
ed to in a subsequent part of this report. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE ORES OP IRON. 
Magnetic Oxide of Ikon.— This ore has a black, grayish 
black, or bluish black colour, more or less brilliant. The varia- 
tions of colour, however, are often owing to the presence of for- 
eign matters. When these are carefdly separated and the ore 
reduced to powder, it is black and follows the magnet. Some spe- 
cimens are not only attracted by the magnet, but possess polarity* 
This property, so far as my observation extends, belongs to those 
varieties which have a crystalline or foliated structure, and does not 
appear to be much influenced by their purity. 
The magnetic oxide of iron is usually soluble in hot muriatic 
acid, especially if the mineral be previously reduced to a fine pow-^ 
der. Sometimes, however, the presence of foreign matters renders 
it necessary to calcine the ore with carbonate of soda or potassa^ 
before its solution in that agent can be effected. 
It is remarked by Professor Cleaveland that large beds of mag- 
netic oxide of iron extend with little interruption from Canada to 
the vicinity of New-York. The correctness of this statement will 
appear from the following geographical outline of its localities. 
Commencing with the southern part of the State, we first ob« 
serve beds or veins of magnetic iron crossing the line between 
New-Jersey and New-York, at or near the southern extremity of 
Orange county; and they occur in various parts of the primitive 
range which traverses this county in a northeasterly direction. 
The following are among the most important localities. 
