504 
GEOLOGY OF THE FIRST DISTRICT. 
metalliferous veins at that place, that the probability is that the most productive part of the 
vein would be in the limestone of the valley, and which probably lies a little west of the base 
of the mountain and of the adit level. Prof. Beck supposes, from the observations made, 
that the direction of the vein was entirely mistaken.* He does not mention the direction in 
which he supposes it to run, but it may be inferred that he thinks it runs parallel with the 
strike of the rocks, like that of Wurtsborough and Red-bridge, and it is probable that this 
may be the direction of the main vein. 
In concluding my description of the Ulster mine near Redbridge, (page 359 of this 
volume,) which has been worked by the North American Coal and Mining Company, I stated 
an intimation that the company had determined to expend the sum of ten thousand dollars in 
making explorations during the year 1839, and at the same time expressed that my own 
intention had been to reexamine this mine. I have not been able to make such reexamination, 
and therefore can form no definite opinion as to the results of the company’s operations; but 
Prof. Beck examined it the next year (1840), and says, “The work has not recently been 
prosecuted to any extent; but I know of no peculiarity in the character of this mine, and 
there can be no reasonable doubt that a large amount of ore is here to be found. It may also 
be observed, that its metallic minerals are similar to those found in the Sullivan mine, and 
that they are associated with groups of quartz crystals, which are often of great beauty.”t 
I examined this mine soon after the first shaft was commenced in 1837, and fig. 1 of Plate 
39 shows the geological relations as far as they were observed, (a) represents the vein of 
quartz containing the metalliferous minerals, parallel to the strike, but not parallel to the 
stratification; (5), slate like argillite, with layers of pyritous quartz between. The layers 
of the argillite were arched and broken, and confused between the sides of the fault or frac¬ 
ture of the adjacent grit rocks of the Shawangunk grit. The dip of the rocks in this vicinity 
varies from twenty to sixty degrees to the west-northwest, and the strike is in the direction 
of the mountain. 
I have given (pages 359, 360 and 361 of this volume) a full description of the Shawangunk 
or Sullivan mine, located on the Shawangunk mountain near Wurtsboro’ in Sullivan county. 
Prof. Beck, speaking of the relative amount of the lead ore and of the vein stone in this mine, 
says, “ the average quantity of ore in a cubic yard of the vein is as great, if not greater than 
that of any lead mine now known in the northern part of the State. The Sullivan and St. 
Lawrence mines may be thus briefly contrasted : In the latter, there are very small veins of 
good ore, with very good associates, very easily reduced; but the situation of the mines is 
bad. In the former, there are large veins, with bad associates, more difficult of separation 
and reduction ; but the mines are admirably situated, whether we regard the removal of the 
ore, or the facility of transporting the produce of it. And perhaps, in one word, the Sha¬ 
wangunk lead mines (so called) have been somewhat underrated, while those of Rossie have 
been much overrated. 
Fifth Annual Geological Report, 1S41, p. 7. 
t Ibid. p. 7. 
t Ibid. p. 8. 
