ORES OF THE CHAMPLAIN, TACONIC AND METAMORPHIC ROCKS. 
503 
Hillsdale, on the farm formerly owned by Mr, Jesse Squire. Copper pyrites occur rather 
abundantly in the Ancram lead mine, but not enough to be worth separating. 
Copper pyrites was observed in the siliceous slate, on the road from Lower Redhook to 
Upper Redhook landing, but in small quantity. It is on Nathan Beckwith’s land. 
Galena has been found in several localities in New-Lebanon. Lead ore occurs in an old 
mine in Livingston, on the farm of John E. H. Plass. Pyrites and blende are also associated. 
Another mine hole is seen about one hundred and fifty to two hundred yards southeast of 
the one just mentioned. The hill in which they are contained is called the Red hill, in con¬ 
sequence of the deep red color of the soil. The ore is contained in a stratum of rock 
resembling compact trap. It is about two or three feet thick, and. dips thirty to forty degrees 
to the eastward, parallel to the slate. 
In Fishkill, on Mr. Van Wyck’s farm, one mile southeast of Johnsville, Mr, Merrick saw 
a thin vein of quartz in limestone, which contained galena and some copper pyrites. 
Blende occurs abundantly with the lead ore at the Ancram lead mine. It is both yellow 
and crystalline, brown and compact. It was also seen in veins one quarter to one inch wide, 
in the limestone at Mr. Ward Bryan’s and Judge Bockee’s lead mines in Northeast. It was 
seen in small quantities at most of the lead diggings in various parts of Columbia and 
Dutchess counties, but more abundant and beautiful at the old “ Silver mines,” in Canaan, 
two miles south of Whiting pond. 
In Northeast, on Mr, Lee’s farm, about four miles north of Amenia, are excavations made 
some years since in search of silver. They are in quartz veins in the talcy slate rock, near 
the junction of this rock and the limestone. Pyrites occur in some abundance there, but no 
other ore was seen. 
In the northeast part of Lagrange are numerous excavations, said to have been silver mines, 
from which, according to tra,dition, large quantities were obtained in olden times. Mr. Mer¬ 
rick could discover no ^traces of any metal except a few particles of pyrites, and the money 
made there was probably “ out of pocket.” 
Silver mines have often been mentioned to me as occurring in particular localities, but 
investigation showed, in at least nine cases in ten, that pyrites was the deceptive mineral. A 
silver mine is reported to exist in Hillsdale, on Barney Overhizer’s farm. It is probably 
pyrites. 
Too many are still believers in the mineral rod, and suffer themselves to be duped by the 
designing ; but there are some who use the mineral rod, and are ignorant of the cause of its 
motion, who firmly believe in its virtues. It is time that this faith in the mineral rod should 
be exploded, and that all should understand that those who profess to be able to find minerals, 
ores, etc., by a witch hazle, peach, or any other forked twigs, or strips of whalebone with a 
silver or other knob on the end, are either knaves or the dupes of their own ignorance. 
In the Shawangunk,grits, metalliferous veins have been found in several localities, about 
the Shawangunk mountains, as stated on page 358 of this volume; and to the account there 
given of the Ellenville mine, it may be proper to add, in reference to the direction of the 
