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[Assembly 
the most valuable in the estimation of bloomers, and for which a pre- 
ference is always expressed. The colour is a light blue, and it is des- 
titute mostly of a metallic lustre. It is more or less granular and soft, 
and unlike the ore of this mineralogical species, it gives a red streak, 
thereby indicating that it has undergone an important change in regard 
to the degree of oxidation of the ore, and is at the maximum state. The 
facility with which the ore works is to be attributed mostly to the pre- 
sence of silex, or quartz, finely disseminated through the ore in the pro- 
per proportion for forming a flux. There is no excess of stony or earthy 
matter on which the heat and other agents in reduction requires to be 
expended. This vein has been worked to the depth of two hundred 
feet, and about fifty rods in length. Its width varies from 2 to 8 feet. 
This variation of width is not an uncommon circumstance. Its medi- 
um width is not far from 4 feet. 
In its descent it dips at an angle of about 75° or 80° to the west. 
This vein was necessarily abandoned a few years since in consequence 
of the caving in of the western side. The removal of ore to the depth of 
200 feet brought the pressure of the rock and earth on the western side, 
which it was unable to support on account of the dip. About six rods 
in width of rock and earth fell towards the east about three feet, thus 
nearly closing up the space which had existed betw^een the walls. The 
timbers which were placed lengthwise against the walls, were crushed, 
though they were so numerous that it was impossible for a man to get 
about between them. This vein is now recovered by the enterprise of 
the present proprietor. Col. Barton. It was recovered by ascertaining 
correctly, the direction of its strike towards the north, and excavating 
through the gravel and boulders, down to the rock. The first attempt 
was successful, and it shows the value of geological principles in re- 
covering a lost vein. 
2. Quality of the Iron. 
The iron produced from this ore is remarkable for the following pro= 
perties ; toughness and softness combined with great malleability and te- 
nacity. The possession of these properties have been determined by a 
series of experiments, under the direction of government, for t e pur- 
pose of ascertaining the strength and value of the iron for cables. Ca- 
bles were formerly made by the Peru Company, These, though they 
possessed the requisite tenacity, yet the company could not compete 
successfully in market with English cable, and the manufacture of them 
was consequently abandoned. This iron too, was acted on more by 
