98 
GEOLOGY OF THE SECOND DISTRICT. 
Stating facts than giving theories. Every day brings to light new facts which bear upon this 
question; and it would be premature now to expect to present a view, in the present stage 
of mining operations in this country, which will be free from objections. All, therefore, 
which ] would upon the whole be understood as saying, is, that so far as facts have been 
revealed, they go to the support of the igneous origin of these ores. 
In this place I deem it important to say one word on the uncertainty of mining operations, 
when carried on in connection with rocks whose origin is similar to that of serpentine and 
primitive limestone. Experience has shown us, that every visible particle of ore may be 
removed from those rocks, without leaving a trace by which the miner may push forward his 
operations. Frequently in gneiss the vein diminishes in width, till it is a mere string; but 
this serves to direct the operations farther, and which, if pursued, lead to its enlargement or 
expansions ; or sometimes a lateral shift throws the vein to one side. In either of these in¬ 
stances, the miner is not left without rules and guides by which to recover a lost vein. Not 
so, however, in the veins or masses in serpentine and primitive limestone. The whole mass, 
after being quarried out, leaves no trace of the direction in which it may be found. There 
is neither a string or line of ore, nor a shift, as in mines in other rocks. The probability is, 
that abundance still exists ; but in what direction it is to be found, cannot be told. 
An examination of all the relations'of the rocks, and of collateral facts, lead to the assump¬ 
tion that a quantity of the ores was inclosed in a moulten mass of limestone or serpentine, 
which completely insulated it from the great reservoir from which it was derived. There 
may be many instances in which the insulation is incomplete ; a narrow neck may remain, by 
wdiich the great mass may be discovered. The large masses, such as the Kearney and Parish 
beds, have not been explored sufficiently to test this question ; but many small ones have been 
entirely removed, without any evidence of an extension in any direction, or of a connection 
with a larger mass beneath. Facts of this kind are very important to be known, and should 
lead to caution in the investment of capital, either in the direct purchase of the mines them¬ 
selves, or the erection of establishments for the manufacture of iron. 
