94 
ECONOMICAL MINERALOGY". 
COMBUSTIBLE MINERALS. 
Under this head l include certain substances, not gaseous, which either burn with ordinary- 
degrees of heat, and are employed as fuel, or which agree in their general chemical properties. 
SULPHUR. 
This well-known mineral, so useful in many of the arts, although for the most part confined 
to volcanic countries, has nevertheless been found in the State of New-York. It occurs in a 
pure form, but in small quantity, in a granitic rock near West Point; and a few miles west 
of that place, it has been found in a quartz rock. Small masses are also occasionally met 
with in the gypsum beds of the western counties. The best specimens which I have seen, 
are from Thomson’s quarry in the county of Cayuga. The same mineral is not unfrequently 
deposited in nearly a pure form by waters charged with sulphuretted hydrogen gas. 
In a state of combination, sulphur occurs abundantly in various parts of the State as with 
iron, copper, zinc and lead, constituting sulphurets of these metals. Should it hereafter be 
necessary, these ores may be advantageously employed in the production of sulphur. It may 
be remarked in confirmation of this statement, that since the increase of the duty upon the 
Sicilian sulphur, the English have directed their attention to the procuring of sulphur from 
these.ores. The result is, that it is confidently anticipated that they will not only thus obtain 
an abundant supply for their own consumption, but that it will become an article of export. 
The process, which is sufficiently simple, consists essentially in subjecting the sulphurets to 
heat, so as to disengage the sulphur; for the collection and purification of which, various 
arrangements of apparatus are employed. 
ANTHRACITE AND COAL. 
There are many localities of these important minerals in this State, which will be noticed 
in the Second Part of this Report. Unfortunately they have not hitherto been found in quan¬ 
tities sufficient for any useful purpose. Although large sums have been expended in researches 
for these minerals, and high expectations in some instances excited, they occur only in thin 
layers, and in geological relations which differ entirely from those of the true coal measures. 
The only substitute for coals in this State at present known, is the substance to be. next 
noticed. 
