FRANKLIN COUNTY. 
331 
Malone Ore. 
About four miles west of Malone, several veins of magnetic oxide have been opened and 
wrought to a small extent. Three or four parallel veins occur, lying obliquely to the axis of 
a granitic ridge, each of which was pursued several rods. They are now abandoned in 
consequence of unsettled claims in relation to ownership. Being filled up, — no vein to be 
seen, — but little ore upon the surface, and that of an inferior character, it is impossible to 
give even an opinion either of the quality or quantity of the ore. Its position and relations 
are rather peculiar; and it appeared from the direction of the excavations, that the veins pur¬ 
sued a more westerly course than usual: besides the ore was mostly obtained loose with soil 
or hardpan, having been enclosed in a decomposing rock. The examination I made left the 
impression that those veins proceeded from another traversing the granitic ridge already refer¬ 
red to, and that those which have been opened are lateral or subordinate ones. This point, 
however, cannot be cleared up without a better exposure. 
This locality is the most northern position which has been, or probably will be, discovered 
in the Second district: and it is almost the extreme limit of the Primary system. Some beds 
may be discovered near the junction of the potsdam sandstone and the primary, or in the same 
geological position as those of St. Lawrence and Jefferson counties. It is only, however, 
where the sandstone is thin and broken up, that there is any probability or prospect of finding 
the red oxide. The indications are found in the red color of the sandstone, its staining or 
soiling the fingers, and sometimes the exhibition of serpentine in the midst of the sandstone. 
There is, however, as will be seen, a very small prospect of discovering the peroxide. All 
the sandstone of Franklin is whiter and purer than usual, and more free from stains from the 
oxide of iron than in regions where it is known to exist. 
Sandstone. 
The Potsdam sandstone is well developed in this county. Fine and perfect examples of 
this rock occur at Malone and Chateaugay. From the northern boundary of the primary, the 
surface rock consists of this sandstone, extending beyond the Provincial line. The whole 
northern slope is composed of this rock. On the northwest, it passes beneath the calciferous 
sandrock. If a line is drawn from the northeast angle of Westville, southwest to Morristown, 
nearly straight, it will pass along the border of the two rocks, or their line of junction. In 
the towns, therefore, upon the northwest, the surface rock is a sandy limestone, passing into 
a tolerably pure limerock. 
The potsdam sandstone extends frequently several miles up the valleys, beyond its general 
extension when the whole country is regarded ; thus, on the Salmon river, it extends four or 
five miles south of Malone. 
Some of the insulated beds of sandstone appear at the following places : 
In Dickinson, the sandstone exists mostly in boulders, which are very numerous, epecially 
in the southern part of the town. In Bangor, one mile south of the church, there is a small 
