ALLUVIAL DIVISION. 
117 
of the compass near Mr. Wood’s house. The compass varies in a distance of two rods in an 
east and west line from 30^ to 40°, and the centre is in the north-northeast and south-south¬ 
west line of direction of the Simewog vein on Simewog hill. On the north-northwest side of 
where the vein seems to pass, the compass varies to the east of north 15° to 20° ; and on 
the south-southeast side, it varies as much to the west of north. The stones on the surface 
where the vein is supposed to pass, contain magnetic oxide of iron disseminated ; and some 
lumps of ore, and masses of manganesian garnet and epidote, were also observed on the 
same line at this place, and a mine of the magnetic ore has been opened about a mile south- 
southwest. The white limestone is not far distant on the east from the reputed lead mine. 
All the geological circumstances that were observed, and that seem to have a bearing upon 
this reputed lead mine, have been related. The region is a highly metalliferous one, and it 
is probable some excavations may have been made here, as in hundreds of other places in the 
Highlands, by the company of miners that was sent into this country between 1730 and 1750, 
under the direction of the Baron Horsenclever; and that traditions connected with these exca¬ 
vations, aided by some imagination and credulity, have been the basis of many of the reputed 
silver and lead mines in the Highlands and other parts of New-York. 
Many localities might be mentioned in Putnam county, where pyrites decomposes with the 
formation of the sulphate of iron. The principal that have not been mentioned, are, 
1. An old iron mine on Anthony’s Nose mountain, about one and a half miles east of Fort Mont¬ 
gomery. 
2. An old “ silver mine,” (but which contains no silver,) on the top of the same mountain, three 
miles east of Fort Montgomery. 
3. On the top of a hill, about one and a half miles east of West-Point. 
4. Shore of the Hudson, nearly opposite Buttermilk falls, 
5. Shore of the Hudson, several places, nearly opposite West-Point. 
6. Shore of the Hudson, several places, between Arden’s landing and the landing above. 
7. Near the post road, two or three miles east of Arden’s landing. 
The localities in Putnam county are all in the primary rocks, and nearly all are at or near 
fractures or uplifts, or localities of more than usual disturbance of the strata. 
In Delaware county, sulphate of iron effloresces abundantly on the surface of a pyritous 
rock, at a “ silver mine,” as it has been called, on Dry brook, about two miles up the stream 
from Arkville in Middletown. Another locality is at an old mine hole, where copper has been 
supposed to exist, on Downe’s brook in Colchester. These localities in Delaware county are 
in the Catskill division of rocks. 
In Orange county, 1, at an old iron mine on the farm of Isaac Faurot. 
2. Near an old mine hole, one and a half miles north of Capt. Faurot’s. 
3. Near an old mine hole, one and a quarter miles north of the same place. 
4. Near the shore of the Hudson, at Fort Montgomery, 
