No. 161.] 
127 
ORES OF IRON. 
One of the most prominent features in the geology of the second 
district, is the abundant distribution of iron ore: with the excep- 
tion of the extreme northern portion, and some parts of Jefferson 
county, scarcely a mile can be travelled over, but indications of 
this ore will be observed, more or less frequent. 
This extensive tract of country, comprising an area of nearly 
8,000 square miles, much of it exhibiting a broken and mountain- 
ous surface, almost unfit for any agricultural purposes, except 
grazing, is yet extremely rich in its ores and timber. Almost the 
whole of this extensive tract is well wooded, and by judicious ma- 
nagement — attending to the second growth — would furnish char- 
coal for working the ores of its inexhaustible mines for an indefi- 
nite period. Although presenting almost an interminable wilder- 
ness, with many other obstacles to the cultivator, yet its mineral 
treasures offer a sure and rich reward to the enterprising capital- 
ist. In proof of this statment, reference need only be made to the 
flourishing condition of the different establishments for the manu- 
facture of iron in this region. 
- The difTerent kinds of ore in this section, are the following, in 
the order of their abundance. 
1. Magnetic oxide of iron: 
2. Specular oxide of iron, and its varieties: 
5. Bog iron ore. 
I. MAGNETIC OXIDE OF IRON. 
General Remarks. 
This ore of iron is as extensively distributed as the mountains of 
granite and gneiss, throughout Warren, Essex, Clinton and Frank- 
lin counties; very little of any other kind of ore is found in the 
mountainous parts of these counties. Hamilton county, and the 
southeast part of St. Lawrence county, contain numerous beds of 
this ore, which have not been explored. 
Geological Situation and Associated RocJcs. 
This ore occurs in beds parallel to the direction of the mountain 
ranges, and when in gneiss, parallel to its apparent stratification. 
