300 
GEOLOGY OF THE SECOND DISTRICT. 
the veins and dykes still farther, I have introduced a ground plan, Fig. 79. The dark shaded 
79. 
lines are the veins as in the preceding figure, excepting the thin one, which represents the 
road that was cut into the rock, and which divides or cuts the four veins successively, and 
terminates in the thick mass of ore beyond the fourteen foot dyke. The latter may be traced 
half a mile south, where it meets and cuts another large vein of ore, which I shall have occa¬ 
sion to describe hereafter. This large dyke cuts the Palmer vein very obliquely, while it 
crosses the same half a mile south at a right angle. I was unable to satisfy myself whether 
the Palmer vein is really shifted out of its course, or not. 
The reader w'ill observe some very remarkable features in this, which are not found in the 
Arnold vein, particularly in the wide dissemination of ore in the rock, and the absence of 
regular walls. In the Palmer vein, the distribution of ore has a nearer resemblance to the 
Penfield vein, described under the head of Essex county. In both of these instances, and 
with them might be included the Adirondack ores, it seems that the distribution must be 
coeval with the formation of the rock. We do not find those peculiar marks of violence and 
force, where the vein and rock come together, as in the Arnold and some other distinct veins. 
Farther exploration may throw some light upon the subject, and determine the question whe¬ 
ther such instances as the Palmer ore should be called a vein, or a mass. 
The Palmer ore is black, and mixed with a grey quartz. It requires separating before it is 
reduced; and in this process, it loses about one-third of its weight. The rock embracing it 
is gneiss of the ordinary grey color, but without any very remarkable characters. 
Quality and quantity of the Palmer ore. 
Experience has proved the value of this vein ; and though it is not so rich as the Arnold, 
yet it is profitable to work, and furnishes a good iron. In consequence, however, of the prox¬ 
imity of the latter to the Peru iron works, the proprietors, though they own the Palmer vein, 
find it more profitable to use the Arnold ore at the rate of five dollars per ton, than to work 
their own. It is, however, used more or less, mixed with the Arnold ore, for the purpose of 
