Appendix—Geological Survey. 
4 77 
Where they are extensively worked in Europe, they are, as a general thing, 
very much inferior to this; and, if I recollect right, in the Belgian districts 
the yield is not much over 30 per cent. 
Since attention has been called to this apparently new mineral, region, the 
question has often been asked, whatyfiher evidence, or evidences, have we be¬ 
sides these surface indications, that other deposits, similar to the one at 
Ironton,may not exist in that district? In reply to this I would say, a princi¬ 
ple, common to all mining regions, consists in the aggregation of ore deposits, 
separated from each ether by varying distances, but related to each other by 
geological ties that constitute a mineral district. Such districts may be 
larger or smaller, as the geological formations in which they are found, and 
the physical conditions with which they are connected are extensive or other¬ 
wise. Our own lead district is a very striking example of this. 
As stated in my last report, the ore deposits of this district, notwithstand¬ 
ing the same geological formations continue to the east and to the west, are 
not known to extend beyond the belt of country influenced by this north and 
south anticlinal; while on the north, notwithstanding the same anticlinal con¬ 
tinues, the lead and zinc deposits are not found to extend beyond the limestone 
formations. Within those geological boundaries, we seem to have the limits 
of the lead and zinc district, a district including an area of about 3,300 square 
miles. The history of mining throughout the world, as well as the teachings 
of science, demonstrate the correctness of this principle, and almost war¬ 
rant the existence (where important ore deposits are found) of others of a 
similar character within the bounds of the same geological relations. Fifty 
years ago, a man walking over the lead district, would find no stronger evi. 
dence of the rich, numerous and extensive deposits of lead and zinc ore, 
that are known now to exist, and to have existed there, than he will find to¬ 
day in walking over the district of which I am writing,, of rich, numerous 
and extensive deposits of iron. It was by following up those surface indi¬ 
cations, that the first deposit of lead was found. This deposit inspired con¬ 
fidence to look for others under similar conditions, or indications, and thus, 
one by one these lead deposits were discovered, until over this entire region, 
they may now be counted by hundreds; and although we may have reached 
the outer limits of this lead district, yet, within those limits there are doubt¬ 
less hundreds more of similar deposits that remain to be brought to light. 
A little over one year ago, one of the richest and apparently the most exten¬ 
sive mines in the lead district, w T as discovered and is now being worked, and 
that, too, in a place familiar to our most experienced miners from the earli¬ 
est dawn of our mining history. 
It was by following up those surface indications, that this deposit of iron 
at Ironton was found, and it is to be expected certainly, that its increasing 
richness and importance will inspire confidence in the district, that will lead 
at an early day to its proper development. The suitableness and adaptability 
of this geological formation of iron, and that, too in extensive deposits, no 
geologist of experience will for a moment doubt. That portion of the strata 
in which the ore is found, namely, the Potsdam sandstone, is the lowest 
