52 
ECONOMICAL MINERALOGY. 
and in some places with blende and galena. The vein is from two to three feet wide, and a 
copious spring flows near its junction with the marsh below. The mine was opened many 
years since, and has been worked again within a few years, but very little lead ore has been 
obtained.* 
Washington County. Galena was found in the impure limestone in White-Creek, in the 
year 1823 or 1824. The locality has been examined by Mr. Mather, who represents the ore 
as lying in small strings and bunches in the rock; and he adds, that the indications on the 
surface are such as to justify the belief that it will be explored at some future time ; but it 
is doubtful whether it would be a profitable investment of capital. It has the same geological 
position and relations as the mines in the counties of Columbia and Dutchess, and the ore 
is said also to contain a small proportion of silver.! 
Such are the mines of lead ore at present known in this State. Upon a review of all the 
information that we possess, truth compels me to say, that the sanguine hopes that a few years 
since were entertained in regard to them, are far from being realized. 
SULPHURET OF ZlNC, OR BlENDE. 
From the preceding account of our lead mines, it will be observed that the sulphuret of 
zinc is a very common associate of galena; indeed, the latter is seldom found in any consi¬ 
derable quantity without the former. The only ore of zinc heretofore credited to this State, 
is the sulphuret. This, however, is not found in such quantity as to lead to its use for ob¬ 
taining the metal. Moreover, this ore is confessedly difficult of reduction, and is not the one 
from which the metallic zinc is usually obtained. I shall, therefore, reserve the notice of this 
mineral, and its localities, for the succeeding part of this work. 
Sulphuret of Copper, or Copper Pyrites. 
The remarks made in regard to the sulphuret of zinc, are generally applicable to this spe¬ 
cies. It is most usually associated with galena. But it has nowhere been found in sufficient 
abundance to warrant its introduction into the catalogue of our useful minerals. It will be 
treated of hereafter. 
Mather. New-York Geological Reports, 1840. 
f New-York Geological Reports, 1841. 
