No. 50.] 
361 
scaly ore or froth has exuded by its seams and cracks ; and where exca« 
vations have been made, at the foot of the ridge, in the loose materials 
which there exist, and near to the seams and cracks, the froth is ob- 
served in unusual quantity, accompanied by the solid red and specular 
ores. At one place at the foot of the ridge, where there was a promise 
of ore, on excavating a few feet, the crystalline limestone, with specu- 
lar ore, was found in connection with steatitic matter, showing, to ap- ' 
pearance, a common age for the ores. 
This locality, which is about two miles from the furnace, is one of 
the best I have seen for observing the position which the specular and 
red iron ores hold in the geological series. The hard red ore with the 
red froth is there connected at their upper part with sandstone which 
makes a part of the conglomerate, above which is the Potsdam sand- 
stone. These rocks at their junction with the ore are inclined ; but at 
a short distance the conglomerate disappears below the soil and the 
sandstone presents its usual horizontal position. Below the red ores 
aie the specular ore and its calcareous associates ; and these at ano- 
ther excavation made for specular ore, are seen reposing upon primary 
rock. 
The Potsdam sandstone becomes, therefore, a good guide for the dis- 
covery of the specular and red ores. Knowing that their place or position 
is above the primary and below this sandstone, we are certain that 
where the sandstone exists, that whatever ore was deposited below it, 
there it exists ; but when this rock is abse/it, so great has been the ac- 
tion of destructive agents through the primary region, that we have no 
guide for its discovery, excepting its actual presence. 
The red iron froth or scaly iron ore so soft and greasy to the touch, 
is readily imitated by calcining equal portions of common salt and 
copperas. After that operation the soluble part is to be removed by 
washing with water. It is then used for razor straps. 
Carburet of iron. Not far from the natural bridge on the land of Mr. 
Cleaveland, there is an extensive deposit of this mineral or plumbago 
in extremely fine particles mixed with what appears to be chlorite, and 
also some epidote and probably idocrase. The plumbago in conse- 
quence of its mixture with other minerals is of little or no use to which 
this substance is usually applied, but from its apparent great abundance 
ti might be used as an iron ore and with care may be converted by 
one operation to steel and of the best quality ; for a like combina- 
tion must produce a first rate metal as to quality, which experiment 
[Assembly, No. 50.] 46 
