326 
GEOLOGY OF THE SECOND DISTRICT. 
south, to a point four miles south of Malone, in the valley of the Salmon river. This boun¬ 
dary line then pursues again a northwest course, in order to sweep around those primary 
spurs which come up from Brandon, and which terminate a mile or two north of the road 
leading from Malone to Dickinson. The direction, after passing around these spurs, is south¬ 
west through Dickinson and Hopkinton, and then more westerly to Parishville. South of this 
line, the whole county is primary, consisting principally of granite, gneiss and hornblende. 
According to these views of its topography as well as geology, Franklin lies west of the 
great chain of mountains which terminate at Port Kent; the succeeding range on the west 
being less elevated, and more broken into insulated mountains, as may be seen in its termi¬ 
nation in the hills of Chateaugay, and those which lie to the south. 
Iron Ores. 
As in Clinton and Essex, so in Franklin county, the magnetic iron ores are found connected 
with the primary rocks, both with granite and gneiss. Having, however, described the pheno¬ 
mena of veins and masses of iron, as they exist in Essex and Clinton, very little need be said 
of the ores of this county, inasmuch as the facts do not vary or differ materially from those 
already given. A very brief account, therefore, will suffice to put the reader in possession 
of all that is material in the iron ores of this county. It is, however, but just to myself to 
say, that my object in giving so much detail and illustration of the veins and masses of ore in 
Essex and Clinton, was to furnish the miner, and persons directly interested in the iron busi¬ 
ness, with all the facts whicli were important to be known in order to pursue the business of 
mining, particularly on established principles, or under the guidance at least of correct ob¬ 
servations ; and as the veins are more abundant, and the circumstances for observation far 
better in those counties than in Franklin, it became necessary there to select those facts which 
appear to lie at the foundation of this business, and which are necessary to be known in order 
to secure success in its prosecution. 
First, as it regards the geographical position of the iron ores of Franklin, it is evident they 
must be confined exclusively to the southern townships ; and in order to be definite, I may 
say that they cannot be found in any of the towns in the two northern tiers, north of the 
boundary line which I have already marked out for the northern limit of the primary. I make 
this remark, in consequence of the claims which have been set up for mineral riches in the 
north part of Franklin. A more unfortunate claim could hardly have been made for any sec¬ 
tion of the State. The truth is, that almost all of the northern slope is sandstone, one of the 
most barren rocks known in mineral riches of any kind whatever. But in the great region 
south of the line or boundary referred to, the facts are quite different; for we find not only 
a possibility of the existence of iron, but a great degree of probability. The formation is 
such as extensive observation proves may abound in ores ; though it is still to be remembered 
that no certainty exists of their presence, even when the geological structure is compatible. 
The most southern point known to me of the existence of the magnetic oxide, is in the 
town of Franklin. At this place a vein of rather fine grained ore occupies a hill near the 
