2m 
Lead, 
There are three localities of lead, which have been explored, to some 
extent J in this county— the Rossie, the Black Lake^ and the Wilson 
vein. The explorations at the two first have been made, so far, that no 
doubt now remains of their value. At the latter, the prospects are, so 
far, favorable, that a shaft is about to be sunk, with prospects no way 
discouraging, as it regards, ultimate success, though it is not expected 
that the lead raised in the work will meet the expenses of it. 
In the immediate neighborhood of the Rossie lead mine^as it is called^ 
are four veins, which pursue as many different courses. 
The first discovered, and first in importance, is the Nash vein. Its 
magnetic bearing is south, 80° east. The next is the Jepson vein, bear- 
ing south, 88° 30'^ east. The Robinson vein bears about due east, and 
in the Ross vein, the bearing is not determined. These four veins in- 
tersect each other, at various points, and occurring in the immediate vi- 
cinity of each other, they form a very remarkable mining region. See 
map of the mining region of Rossie. Of this mineral formation, it 
will be sufficient to speak of the Nash vein to show the value and im- 
portance of the lead region of St. Lawrence, the mode of conducting 
operation, and the quantity of the metal already produced. 
The rock in which these veins are found is gneiss, interlaminated with 
hornblende. The gangue is carbonate of lime, coarse, and crystaline, with 
druses of beautiful calcareous spar. The dip is nearly vertical, slightly 
inclining to the north, as may be seen by the diagram exhibiting a view 
of the eastern termination of the vein as it was when first exposed by 
the removal of the rubbish concealing it. See plate 1. The whole 
width of the gangue is four feet. The whole depth to which the mine 
has been worked, is 100 feet. At the depth of 40 feet, the average 
width of the vein of lead, is 2h feet^ at 80 feet, 3 feet; and at 100 feet, 
31 feet. Showing a gradual increase in width. It is to be understood, 
that there is not a width of solid galena of 3, or even 2 feet; but the 
width at which the lead appears in the vein of spar, is as stated at the 
various depths. It is every where more or less intermixed with the 
gangeu, even when it is the richest. It is considered, that a vein, 1 foot 
in width, having the usual proportion of lead, will pay a fair profit by 
working. The ore is reduced on the ground, or not far from the mines. 
The quantity of lead, manufactured since the first of January, 1837, 
amounts to 2,029,415 pounds. In conducting this process, it is found 
that dry pine answers a good purpose in smelting. It is a matter of 
some doubt whether it is as good as coal, especially coal of the hard 
