No. 161.] 
177 
Above the green slate, on the Genesee river, are several strata 
of calcareous sandstone, alternating with dark bluish slate, and 
embracing a stratum of iron ore one foot in thickness. The sand- 
stone in places contains masses of limestone, with geodes of calca- 
reous spar, and veins of fossilliferous hornstone, which passes into 
chalcedony. A layer of this rock generally supports the iron ore, 
though sometimes a thin seam of slate is interposed. 
This red oxide of iron appears to be extensively distributed 
through the western counties, and extends from near Little-Falls, 
in Herkimer county, to Niagara river. It occurs in masses com- 
posed of small, distinct concretions, sometimes round or granular, 
but more frequently lenticular or flattened; it is easily broken, and 
has a moderate lustre, somewhat metallic; color of a bright red; 
it is unctuous and soils the fingers, whence the local name of paint 
ore. In some localities, as in the vicinity of Clinton, Oneida coun- 
ty, it appears in more solid masses, embraced in strata of the green 
rock, which usually accompanies it, here compact and tenaciously 
adhering to the ore. It is quarried for the mason work of a por- 
tion of the Chenango canal. The ore yields about 33 per cent of 
iron of excellent quality; it is easily smelted, and requires no flux, 
which is always necessary with the harder ores of iron. At some 
furnaces it is not smelted by itself, but is mixed with other ores. 
The best quality we have seen is on Black creek, in Wayne coun- 
ty, where it is blasted for the use of a furnace, near the village of 
Wolcott. It is here about three feet thick, embraced between 
strata of compact green slate. It frequently contains masses of the 
green rock, and specimens of chain coral, or Catenipora esc/iaroides. 
We have never seen any trace of land or fresh water shells in the 
iron ore, such as Helix or Lymnea^ stated, by Mr. Eaton, to be in- 
cluded in it. On the contrary, all the fossils are of marine origin, 
consisting of Spirifers and small corallines, proving that the stra- 
tum was deposited in salt water, like every other sedimentary rock 
in the district. 
The superior terminating rock of the series, at Genesee falls, 
is a sparry limestone, consistmg of a mass o-f a large species of 
Peniamerus, which constitutes a bed 15 inches in thickness. 
[Assem. No. 161.] 
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