48 
ECONOMICAL MINERALOGY. 
Montgomery County. Lead ore occurs in this county, but none of the localities seem to 
be of much importance. On Flat creek in the town of Root, about a mile and a half south¬ 
east of Spraker’s Basin, are several small veins of iron pyrites, galena and blende, in a matrix 
of calcareous spar, the whole being in a fissile slate rock. A small outlay has been incurred 
here, which has been sufficient to exhaust the supply of ore. It is even difficult, at the pre¬ 
sent time, to obtain good cabinet specimens. 
Oneida County. Galena has been found in small quantities in the towns of Vernon and 
Westmoreland. According to Mr. Vanuxem, this ore, associated with blende, occurs near 
Hamilton College, in a rock consisting of carbonate of lime and sand. 
In Orange County, this mineral has been found near Fallbrook in the town of Deerpark, 
but in quantities so very small as to deserve only a mere notice. And the latter remark will 
apply to its occurrence in Rensselaer County. 
St. Lawrence County. Valuable deposits of galena have, within a few years, been 
discovered within this county. On account of their real or fancied importance, and the large 
expenditures which have been made in working them, it is proper that a detailed description 
should be here presented. 
The first, and perhaps still the most important vein in this county, was opened in the winter 
of 1835-36. It is commonly known by the name of the Rossie Lead Mine; although dif¬ 
ferent parts of the same vein, being owned by different proprietors, usually receive in the 
vicinity their distinctive appellations. This mine is situated about two and a half miles south 
of the village of Rossie. The following is a description of it, as it appeared in the early part 
of August, 1836. 
The vein of galena and white decomposed ore was distinctly visible for some distance, 
passing down a precipitous ledge of primitive rock about fifty feet in height. The average 
width of the vein was two feet, and it cut the rock in a nearly perpendicular direction; at the 
lower part, however, inclining slightly to the north. On ascending the ledge, the course and 
extent of the vein could be easily determined by the excavations which had been made, and 
by the appearance of the surface in those parts where it had not been opened. Its course 
was found to be about south-southeast and north-northwest; and its length, as exposed at that 
time, was about four hundred and fifty feet. And throughout this whole extent, the vein 
seemed to be so distinctly characterized as to excite surprise that it had not long before been 
noticed. 
About eight feet from the principal vein was a smaller one, which intersected the rock in 
a direction nearly parallel with the former, and which, at the depth of about thirty feet, united 
with it. 
The galena found in this vein is often crystallized in large cubes, which are not unfrequcntly 
modified by truncations upon the angles. A large proportion of the ore, however, is either in 
foliated masses, which, in consequence of their threefold cleavage, break into cubical or rec¬ 
tangular fragments, or is made up of grains of various sizes. Throughout the whole extent 
