12 
ECONOMICAL MINERALOGY. 
Large quantities of ore have been raised here, and there seems to be still an abundance of it 
in various parts of the vein. But in consequence of its distance from the furnaces now in 
operation, the working of it has been abandoned. Mr. Mather remarks, that he has no doubt 
that this vein is at least two miles in length, with an average width of six feet. The ore is 
strongly attracted by the magnet, and is quite similar to the ores found in the deposits just 
described. The associated rocks are gneiss and hornblendic gneiss.* 
A locality of the magnetic oxide of iron occurs on the farm of Mr. Tilly Foster, about two 
and a half miles southeast of Carmel. The ore forms a large part of a hill about a hundred 
yards long and ten to forty feet broad. There is here, probably, an extensive deposit of ore. 
To these it may be added, that a bed of the same ore was, many years since, opened on 
Anthony’s Nose on the Hudson river, but it contained much iron pyrites, and was not, it is 
believed, thought to be of much value. 
In proceeding from this range in a northern direction, I am not aware that any considerable 
deposits of magnetic iron ore are known to exist, until we reach the county of Saratoga. It 
here occurs in a mountain about half a mile west of the Hudson, and a short distance north 
of Jessup’s Landing.f It is on lands belonging to Thomas I. Porter, Esq. and was discovered 
about the year 1826. It is now opened to the depth of twenty feet or more, and the vein is 
said to have been traced for more than a mile. The ore is said, moreover, to furnish a re¬ 
markably hard and tough iron, and to possess those steely properties which are ascribed to 
the Duane ore in Franklin county, and of which I shall say something hereafter. 
Herkimer County. Abed of the magnetic oxide of iron was discovered, during the year 
1839, on the land of Mr. Willit Congdon, three or four miles northeast of Salisbury Centre. 
It has, however, been traced on the adjoining lots for three quarters of a mile. The mine has 
not yet been sufficiently opened to reveal its character. From one to two hundred tons of ore 
had been obtained from it at the time of my visit, (in 1840.) The ore is compact, attracted 
by the magnet, and possesses polarity. It is associated with silica. The walls of the bed 
are gneiss. The situation of the mine, as at present opened, is by no means advantageous 
for drainage, which is a matter of no trifling importance. 
The discovery of iron ore in this part of the State, is one of great importance. There are 
here all the facilities for its manufacture, and no iron is made in its vicinity. It is, moreover, 
interesting as being the nearest point to the Mohawk valley, where the magnetic iron ore, in 
any abundance, has hitherto been found. 
Lewis County. Iron sand is abundant on the banks of Moose and Black rivers, and the 
massive magnetic ore has been noticed near Louisburg furnace, at the High falls of Black 
river, at Lyondale, and on the road from Harrisville to the Natural Bridge; but it has not 
yet been found in sufficient abundance to be worked 4 
* Mather. New-York Geological Reports, 1839. 
+ For the facts concerning this deposit of ore, 1 am chiefly indebted to Dr. J. M. Allen, late superintendent of the salt works 
in Onondaga county. 
% Vanuxem. New-York Geological Reports, 1840. 
