ALLUVIAL DIVISION. 
121 
Wad {earthy oxide of manganese). 
This alluvial ore is found rather abundantly in a narrow range of country in Columbia 
county. It is deposited from solution in water, in marshes, like bog ore. It has been found 
in quantity only in the vicinity of a range of slate, injected with quartz veins, which contain 
brown spar. Where this spar is decomposed, oxide of manganese remains, which frequently 
retains the crystalline texture of the spar. This quartz, when exposed to the air, soon loses 
the brown spar by decomposition, and becomes cellular. The manganese of the wad is sup¬ 
posed to be derived from the brown spar which has been decomposed, and the constituents of 
which have been transported by water into the low grounds, where the manganese is depo¬ 
sited. Brown spar is composed of the carbonates of lime, magnesia, iron and manganese; 
and as these bodies are isomorphous, they may replace each other without changing the crys¬ 
talline form. The brown spar of this range of rock seems to contain an unusually large por¬ 
tion of manganese. 
A locality of this ore was discoverd some years since, on Mr. Gott’s farm in Austerlitz. It 
was examined by Prof. Merrick. The ore is found in a marsh, and deposited like bog ore. 
It has been dug to the depth of five or six feet, but how much deeper it extends is not known. 
This ore was dug some years since for the New-York market, and sold there at twenty dollars 
per ton; but in consequence of the small profit derived, the owner abandoned the business. 
The bed of ore is reported to be extensive. Mr. Gott’s grandfather discovered this ore bed 
about fifty years ago, but supposed it to be iron ore. A light seen near this spot is said to 
have led to its discovery. A bed of it is said to have been found one mile south of the above, 
on the farm of Mr. Judson Park. 
Mr. Merrick found oxide of manganese or wad about two miles east of Green river, at the 
outlet of a marsh, near an excavation made for silver ore, but from which little silver will pro¬ 
bably be obtained. Many similar localities of wad are reported to exist in this vicinity, and 
in the northeast part of Austerlitz. 
A locality of wad was examined on David Parsons’ farm, three-quarters of a mile south of 
Canaan centre. It was seen at the outlet of a small swamp, and had a depth of from six to 
eighteen inches. The swamp has an area of perhaps three or four acres, and is probably 
underlaid by a bed of this ore of manganese, which has been deposited like bog ore. 
A bed of wad, or earthy oxide of manganese, has been found on the farm of Joseph Good- 
sell, in Hillsdale. Mr. Calvin Prescot dug fifty tons of this ore several years ago, and sold 
it for twenty dollars per ton in New-York. 
Another locality was examined, half a mile east of Mr. Goodsell’s of Hillsdale. It is of 
inferior quality. 
Oxide of manganese is said to have been found near Ancram lead mine, Columbia county; 
and on the island of New-York, in pebbles ; also near Troy, N. Y.* 
• Pierce and Torrey. Cleaveland’s Mineralogy, p. 673 ; and Robinson’s Catalogue of Minerals, p. 114. 
Geol. 1st Dist. 16 
