214 
[Assembly 
In Pitcairn, galena occurs in serpentine, associated also with satin spar, 
and in Antwerp, galena and iron are found in connexion with serpen- 
tine. In these instances the quantity is small. There is not much pro- 
bability that the Belmont mine will prove profitable. These are no- 
ticed more particularly on account of the serpentine which forms the 
gangue, a rock usually very lean in the metals, with the exception of 
the chromate of iron, and occasionally copper. 
I have thus briefly noticed some of the deposits of the valuable mi- 
nerals in the county of St. Lawrence. It will be seen that they all 
belong to the primitive formation, so called, and that they form an 
important addition to the wealth of this State. The short time which 
has elapsed since the first discovery of lead here, and the limited scale 
on which operations have been conducted, together with the pressure of 
the times; considering, I remark, what has been accomplished under 
these circumstances, it is a matter of congratulation that interests so 
essential to the manufacturers of this country are in a condition so fa- 
vorable. Much credit is therefore due to the gentlemen who have con- 
ducted these operations, and persevered under discouragements until the 
whole matter is placed on a sure footing. 
Sandstone of Potsdam, 
Among the natural sources of wealth of St. Lawrence county, in 
which the public is interested, is the sandstone of Potsdam. 
I shall not enter upon its geological relations, any farther than to state, 
that in Potsdam, and other towns, in which it appears, it uniformly rests 
on the primary strata; and in no part of the county is there any rock 
which interposes itself between it and the primary, so that it appears 
here, as the oldest representative of the transition series. The identifi- 
cation of this rock, with the sandstones along the southern border of 
Lake Ontario, will be a matter of some diflSculty. It is geologically 
below the transition limestone, and never in the northern district alter- 
nates with it, but always holds the relation of an inferior rock. So 
much is known of its position, but still some doubt remains as to its 
general relation, and to its name and place in the series of rocks. Some 
call it the old red sandstone, others regard it as equivalent to the new, 
or saliferous rock of Eaton. 
But our business is to describe the rock, as it is, and speak of its eco- 
nomical applications, leaving some doubtful points to be cleared up by 
future observations. 
