USA > New York > Jefferson County > A history of Jefferson County in the state of New York, from the earliest period to the present time > Part 59
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Epidote, in granular masses, disseminated in bowlders of green stone, is of frequent occurrence. It has not been found in situ in the county.
Feldspar (orthoclase), besides forming a common ingredient in gneiss, often occurs, highly crystalized, in Antwerp, and The-
* Proceedings of American Association. Albany, 1851, p. 232.
¡ N. Y. Geological Rep., 1840, p. 110. Dr. Beck's Min. Rep., p. 402. Dana's Mineralogy, 3d ed., p. 232, &c.
553
Mineral Localities.
resa, near Grass Lake, &c. Porphyry occurs in bowlders and trap, and greenstone both in bowlders and dikes. The latter occur with peculiar interest and variety in Antwerp, between Vrooman and Muscalunge lakes. Dikes, of great width, are ob- served in the neighboring town of Rossie.
Fluor Spar. The most remarkable locality of this mineral in the state was discovered about fifteen years since, on the east bank of Muscalunge Lake, in Theresa, in a vein of considerable width, with calcite, and heavy spar. Cubic crystals, a foot in di- ameter, quite transparent and yielding by cleavage an octahedron, were procured here. The larger specimens were commonly rough externally, but the smaller ones were smooth and transpa- rent, and groups of these crystals of great beauty and interest were procured. The locality was purchased with the view of working it as a flux, but nothing was done in this line, and good specimens can now only be procured with much labor, expense and danger. The color of the mineral here was generally pale green and sometimes deep green. With heavy spar, in Adams, green crystals occur of small size, and it is more abundantly diffused in a massive state. Rarely, cavities in fossils in the Trenton limestone, are lined with small crystals of this mineral.
Garnet is common in bowlders, but does not here occur else- where.
Graphite (black lead) occurs in minute scales, to a small ex- tent, in the white limestone of Antwerp.
Heavy spar (sulphate of barytes). One of the most interest- ing localities of this mineral in the state, occurs on Pillar Point, in Brownville, on the shore facing Chaumont Bay and Cherry Island. It occupies a vein in Trenton limestone, from one to two feet thick, and is chiefly interesting for the delicate alterna- tions of color, in zones and bands, which become apparent upon the polished surface. It has been wrought to a considerable extent as a material for lithic paint, but has lately been purchased from its supposed importance in indicating the existence of metallic ores, although none have hitherto been observed in its vicinity.
In Antwerp, about a mile east from the Ox Bow, on the farm of Robert Dean, occurs an interesting locality of this mineral, in a cavity or vein of white limestone. From the great abundance of vermicular cavities and pores, it is very light, and the cavi- ties often present globular surfaces, studded with crystals. From the presence of iron, the mineral is much stained with the yellow oxyde of that metal; but where it has not been exposed to the weather, it is sometimes white. No metallic associates have been noticed here.
In the town of Theresa, an interesting locality of highly
554
Mineral Localities.
crystaline heavy spar, which has been suspected to contain stron- tia, occurs. Beautiful specimens have been obtained here. The banks of Muskelunge Lake afford small but elegant crystals. In Adams, near the north border, and about two miles north-west from Adams Centre depot, on the farms of Calvin Warrener, H. Colton and others, is a very remarkable locality of this mineral. A ragged and very irregular vein has here been traced more than a mile, nearly east and west, in a hill of Trenton limestone, that rises on three sides to a commanding height, and overlooks the country north and west to a great distance. About eight years since, it came to the notice of a paint manufacturing com- pany in Brownville, and about fifty tons have been removed for that purpose, on a ten years lease, giving fifty cents per perch, tribute. A perch weighs two tons, and when prepared, makes 2,500 pounds of paint. The mineral in Adams is much mingled with the limestone, through which it sends thin veins, and de- tached masses of the latter frequently occur imbedded. Its struc- ture is compact, color white or flesh colored, and inclined to as- sume the peculiar waved and contorted appearance, common at the Pillar Point locality. Cavities are of frequent occurrence, which are usually lined with faces of minute bladed crystals, and it is associated sparingly with calcite, but more commonly with fluor spar disseminated through it, and often crystalized. Heavy spar has been extensively used at Brownville, to adulterate white lead. It is prepared by crushing, washing, steaming in zinc vats with sulphuric acid, again washing, and grinding in a stone mill in water, till it can be strained through a fine bolting cloth, when it is dried and ground in oil with white lead. This manu- facture has been abandoned, and will not probably be resumed.
Hornblende. Besides being a common constituent of gneiss, nu- merous varieties of this rock occur in bowlders and rocky strata, among which are the following: Amphibole (basaltic horn- blende) is found in bowlders in crystals, firmly imbedded in trap and green stone. Tremolite is found in bowlders of white lime- stone, and, occasionally, in small quantities in Antwerp and in Wilna, near Natural Bridge. Diallage is rarely found in bowl- ders of chloritic slate. Pargasite, in beautiful green crystals, occurs in white limestone at numerous localities near Ox Bow, and in a neighborhood known as New Connecticut, in Antwerp, near the Ox Bow. It is commonly found with apatite, crystal- ized feldspar and sphene. The crystals are small, but usually well defined, and sometimes occur in radiating clusters. Ami- anthus and Asbestus are found in minute quantities in bowlders of serpentine. The latter also occurs half a mile from Theresa Village. Besides these varieties, hornblende is found in bowlders, coarsely crystaline, slaty, and compact, and of the latter a vari-
1
555
Mineral Localities.
ety containing grains of garnet is extremely tough. This min- eral does not of itself occur in rocky masses in our county, and the source from whence these bowlders are derived must be distant.
Idocrase, in small brown crystals, occurs occasionally on the banks of Vrooman Lake, near Ox Bow. It has been found in larger crystals, in bowlders, in Antwerp.
Iron Pyrites (sulphuret of iron) occurs in the iron mines of Antwerp, in Wilna, Theresa, Alexandria, and more rarely in thin veins and grains in Trenton limestone. Its most inter- esting form is seen in Utica slate, where it is found replacing the substance of organic remains, which, when first removed, possess the lustre and color of brass, but soon decompose in the air. From the character of our geology, this mineral can scarcely be expected to occur in profitable quantities for the manufacture of copperas, alum or soda ash, in the county. From its golden splendor, it has often been mistaken for that metal. It has been found in veins of spar, in Trenton limestone, in nodules with a radiating fibrous texture. This is the mundic of Cornish miners.
Labradorite (opalescent feldspar) is occasionally found in bowlders, but less commonly than in St. Lawrence county.
Limonite. Bog iron ores are common in swamps in Wilna, and adjacent to the river above, where they have been exten- sively used in making iron. They occur in the form of an earthy loam, coarse granules, and solid masses, the latter often containing the forms of roots and leaves, which have had their substance replaced by this ore. In some instances, this ore will become replaced, when exhausted, by a fresh deposit from springs. Ochre occurs in Champion and other towns, in small quantities.
Magnetite. Magnetic iron ore, in crystaline blades, dissemi- nated in gneiss, has been observed in the town of Alexandria, in sufficient abundance to lead to the belief that it might be wrought with profit. It is a common ingredient in that rock, and its disintegration affords the black magnetic writing sand, frequently met with on the banks of rivers and lakes. When abundant, this is one of the most valuable ores of iron. The primative region of Alexandria and Wilna may perhaps be found to contain it in profitable quantities.
Malachite (green carbonate of copper) is found in small quan- tities, investing other minerals, at Muscalunge Lake, Theresa.
Millerite (sulphuret of nickel) was first noticed by the author [American Journal of Science, 2d series, vol. ix., 287], in 1848, at the Sterling iron mine, in Antwerp, occurring in delicate needle-shaped prisms, in cavities of iron ore, associated with
556
Mineral Localities.
spathic iron, chalcodite, and iron pyrites. This delicate and very rare mineral is crystalized in hexagonal prisms, the largest of which are one sixtieth of an inch in diameter, and about half an inch long, usually radiating from a central point in tufts, like the down of the thistle, and it has the color and splendor of gold. Sometimes both ends are attached, but more commonly one end is free, and by successive diminutions, becomes ex- cessively attenuated and very flexible.
Muscovite (mica) occurs rarely in bowlders of granite.
Nopthia? While excavating the wheel pits of the Jefferson cotton mills at Watertown, the limestone was found in one place to contain in a cavity about a gill of a yellowish oily fluid, which emitted a strong bituminous odor, and burned freely. Other in- stances have been mentioned, but on uncertain authority, and in no case has an opportunity occurred of applying decisive tests.
Phlogopite. This mica occurs frequently in the white lime- stone, but not in sufficient quantity or in plates of a size that give it interest or value. It is found on an island in Mill Seat Lake, in small quantities and at a few localities near Ox Bow. At Vrooman Lake a highly crystalized variety occurs, in which sharply defined prisms and groups of crystals are found in great abundance. When these crystals are cleaved, the plates pre- sent, by transmitted light, a dove brown color, but they are sel- dom found transparent, of any considerable size. By some strange accident, the town of Henderson has been often quoted as a locality of mica. None can occur here, as it is entirely un- derlaid by Trenton limestone. The white limestone is seldom found in quantity without containing this mineral.
Pyroxene, is common in our primitive rocks. On Grass lake, in Theresa it is found white and crystalized, in groups. Near Ox Bow, it has been found in small quantities and near Natural Bridge, in large black crystals, with sphene &c., Coccolite oc- curs in the same vicinity imbedded in Wollastonite, and rarely in bowlders.
Quartz. This abundant mineral, besides forming the greatest proportion of primary rock, and almost the sole material of sand- stone, is rarely found crystalized. On Butterfield lake, and at several localities in Antwerp, it is found in crystals. At Natural Bridge, chalcedony, occurs in nodules in white limestone. Flint is a common associate of the Black River limestone. Agate in small quantities is found in Wilna, near Natural Bridge. Jasper and basanite, are very rarely found as pebbles in the drift form- ations.
Scapolite is rarely found in detached crystals, imbedded in white limestone, in Antwerp. Adjacent to, and perhaps within, the town of Wilna, near Natural Bridge, the variety Nuttallite,
557
Mineral Localities.
in fused crystals of a pearly gray color, occurs with pyroxene and sphene. It is sometimes massive, and admits of cleavage. A mineral named terenite, by Professor Emmons,* and by him at- tributed to Antwerp, is since considered but a variety of scapolite. We are not aware as it has been found by any one but himself. It was said to be associated with calcite and foliated graphite, in a vein of white limestone.
Serpentine is of frequent occurrence in nodules, in white lime- stone, in Antwerp, but it is far less abundant than in St. Law- rence County. It is various shades of green, and its weathered surface becomes white. It has not hitherto been found in this county of sufficient quantity and quality to be of economical value, and it is chiefly interesting from the crystaline form which it sometimes assumes. It is said to thus occurf two miles south- west of Ox Bow, but we have not been able to learn the precise locality. A mineral allied to this, and named by Professor Em- mons Rensselaerite,t but by later authors considered steatitic pseudomorph, occurs in great abundance in Antwerp and The- resa, where it assumes colors varying from white, through gray, to black, and a texture from finely granular to coarsely crystal- ine and cleavable. It has been made into inkstands and other ornaments, and from the ease with which it may be wrought, and the facility with which it receives a polish, it has been thought that it would prove available as an ornamental marble. An ex- tensive locality of the jet black and fine-grained variety, occurs on Butterfield lake, and a company was a few years since about to be formed for working it, but the projector having been acci- dentally drowned, nothing further was done. It is doubtful whether, from its softness, this mineral could be turned to a val- uable account as a marble. It is seldom that there occurs so wide a range of color and texture as in this mineral. It some- times is crystalized in formns imitative of scapolite, serpentine, &c.§ It was denominated by Professor Beck steatitic pyroxene, from its hardness being like one, and its cleavage and crystaliza- tion like the other.
Specular Iron .- The red oxyde of iron constitutes the princi- pal ore of this metal in Antwerp, Philadelphia and Theresa, and may be said to be the principal ore of northern New York. In geological situation it is intermediate between the primary and Potsdam sandstone, wherever noticed in the county, and is invariably associated with a brittle, variegated mineral, which has been named dysyntribite, ** but which recent analysestt indi-
* Assembly Doc., 1837, No. 161, p. 154.
f Beck's Mineralogy of N. Y., p. 274.
# Assem. 1837, No. 161, p. 154.
§ Beck's Min. N. Y., 277, p. 297.
** Report of the American Asso- ciation for the Advancement of Sci- ence, vol. iv, p. 311.
tt American Journal of Science, 2d ser., xvi, p. 50.
558
Mineral Localities.
cate to be a rock of indefinite composition, closely related to agalmatolite, and varying much in its proportions of alumina, magnesia, lime, and the alkalies. In the geological report of Professor Emmons, * it is named serpentine. It has usually seams, which, when fractured, present a smooth, glazed and striated surface, as is often seen in coal shales, as if the mass had been slipped under heavy pressure. In some form or other, this mineral is associated with the ore in every locality where the lat- ter has been noticed in this county, St. Lawrence and Lewis, as if it were a necessary associate, and sometimes in such quantities, as to displace the ore, to the serious loss of the miners who have to re- move large masses of it. Besides this nondescript mineral, specular ore is associated with calcite, spathic iron, chalcodite, quartz, Millerite, and, more rarely, heavy spar. In richness, it varies from ten to fifty per cent, in the large way, and it is seldom found to work well in the furnace, requiring a mixture of bog ores or limestone, or of ores of different quality, to reduce with the greatest advantage. At each mine, there is a peculiarity of structure and association that enables one accustomed to ores to distinguish them from the others, with facility. In Theresa, this ore was procured during the working of the furnace near Red- wood in considerable quantity. It has been found on an island in Muskelunge lake with heavy spar and green and blue mala- chite but too much mingled with iron pyrites to be useful.
In the edge of Philadelphia, adjoining Theresa, and on farms owned by Loren Fuller and Abial Shurtliff, there occurs a body of specular iron ore between the gneiss and Potsdam sandstone, which has been used to the extent of several hundred tons at Carthage, Antwerp, Redwood and Sterlingville. When wrought alone, it makes an iron known to founders as cold short, and from its mixture with lime, is found to be very useful as a flux in assisting in the reduction of other ores. It occurs of a reddish brown color and shaly texture and is associated with calcite in botryoidal concretions, rarely with crystals of sulphate of barytes and abundantly with the serpentine looking mineral. These mines have been traced a considerable distance but have been only partially wrought, the first operations having commenced about 1838. A tribute of 50 cents per ton is paid for the privi- lege of working these mines and the ores are drawn to Sterling- ville, 7 miles, for an average price of 75 cents, to Carthage, 17 miles, for $2, and to Antwerp, 10 miles, for $1 per ton. It is now pricipally used as a flux to the ore of the Sterling mine.
The mines which have been wrought with most profit in northern New York, are, the Kearney mine in the extreme south- west corner of Gouverneur, and the mines of George Parish adja-
* Geology, 2d District, p. 376, fc.
559
Mineral Localities.
1
cent, in Rossie .* In this same range, about a mile distant and quarter of a mile from the county line, in Antwerp, and but a short distance from the line of the Potsdam and Watertown Rail Road, there was discovered in 1837, a deposit of iron ore, which has been wrought by Mr. Parish with much profit. It is the only mine of the specular ore in northern New York in which the excavations have been continued beyond the light of day, ren- dering lamps necessary. As the ore descends obliquely, the overhanging masses of rock are supported by huge masses of ore left as pillars at suitable intervals. The mine has been drained by an adit, and the thickness of the stratum at right angles to its plane varies from six to thirty feet. Several attempts have been made to reach the ore by sinking shafts, but hitherto without success, and it is now raised by being drawn up an inclined plain by a rude horse power. No minerals of interest have hitherto been found at this iron mine. The ore has proved of an excellent quality, and has been exclusively used at the Rossie Iron Works. The sandstone here presents a brecciated appear- ance, which the author has no where else observed, and is con- siderably stained with iron. Adjacent to, and forming a part of this, is the Thompson mine, on the farm of Hiram Keene, where ore was observed before it had been detected on the adjoining premises. Not being covered by a mineral reserve, this mine became the property of Mr. Keene who sold his right to other parties, and it subsequently became a subject of litigation in the county courts under the belief that it was worthless.
In 1849 about 1000 tons had been taken from it. The mine dips at an angle of about 45º below the sandstone. The ore is of a good quality and has been worked both in furnaces and for- ges. The most extensive iron mine now worked in the county is called the Sterling Mine, from its owner James Sterling, in the same range and geological relation as the last. It was dis- covered about 1836, and mining operations were soon after com- menced and have been since continued with but little interrup- tion, principally for supplying the furnaces at Sterlingville and near Antwerp. Lately it has been taken to Louisburgh and these three furnaces are now principally supplied by this mine. It forms an island in a swamp about half way between Antwerp and Somerville and a quarter of a mile east of the plank road. On the east, the swamp is bordered by a ledge of gneiss and on the west by Potsdam sandstone, and the mine furnish's a greater variety of minerals of scientific interest than any other in this section of the state. We have not been able to procure reliable statistics of the amount of ore produced by this mine. Half a mile further south there was opened by Mr. Parish the
* History of St. Lawrence and Franklin Counties, p. 683.
560
Mineral Localities.
White ore bed on the premises of Mr. Guy White, in August, 1848. It had been observed five or six years previous on the eastern and southern end of a knoll capped with sandstone and in the immediate vicinity of gnei-s rock. About 150 perch of ore had been raised in October, 1848. It has since been wrought for the furnace of Messrs. Skinner and Blish at Wegat- chie. No mineral associates of interest have been observed here. About a mile from the village of Antwerp and in a relation cor- responding with the others, there has been opened within the last year still another mine, on the land of Mr. Ward, but it has not been sufficiently explored to afford a knowledge of its extent or value. There are thus seven or eight mines in a range includ- ing those in Philadelphia apparently coeval in age and pro- duced by a common cause, and it is in the highest degree proba- ble that there will hereafter be opened other mines in this region of equal if not superior interest. About two miles from Ox Bow, in Antwerp, and near the plank road to Evans' Mills occurs the Weeks' ore bed, belonging to Mr. Parish. It has been princi- pally used at Rossie as a flux and is considered of but little rich- ness by itself. It has no mineral associates of interest, is of a dull red color and slaty texture, resembling the ore of Philadel- phia.
Sphene (scilecio-calcareous oxyde of titanium ) is found in white limestone with pargasite, in Antwerp, near Ox Bow. It is of a pale red color, and in minute quantities. It also occurs in large, finely-formed and sharply-defined crystals, near Natural Bridge. In Diana, near the county line, occurs one of the finest localities of this mineral known. It has been defined as Ledererite, but is considered but a variety of this mineral.
Spinel, of a pale red color, and crystals sometimes half an inch in diameter, but usually much smaller, has been observed at Vrooman Lake, near Ox Bow, and four miles from that place towards Theresa. It is imbedded in white limestone, and accom- panied with chondrodite in small quantities. This mineral re- sembles, in many respects, the ruby and saphire.
Talc is sometimes noticed in bowlders in small quantities.
Tourmaline is occasionally found in gneiss, in Antwerp and Theresa, and is found occasionally in bowlders; but the finest locality in northern New York exists on Bald Island, about three miles from Alexandria Bay, where it exists in huge striat- ed prisms, in such quantities as to convey the belief that it would lead to coal, and induced the commencement of mining operations, under circumstances that the slightest acquaintance with geology would have discountenanced. This affords but one . instance among many, of the utility of this science in directing expenditures for mining in the right channel, and in preventing an outlay for the attainment of impossibilities.
561
Meteorological Observations.
Wad (earthy manganese) has been noticed in swamps, in Watertown and elsewhere.
Wollastonite (tabular spar) occurs with angite and coccolite, at Natural Bridge. Delicate fibrous varieties have been found in bowlders in Wilna.
Meteorological observations were made at the academy in Belleville during the years 1830-31-33-34-35-36-42-43-44, in pursuance of the requisition of the Regents of the University, and these returns of nine years constitute the only observations of the kind we possess in the county. They gave the following results:
THERMOMETER.
RESULTANT OF WINDS.
WEATHER, MEAN RES.
MONTHS.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
January,
25.16 22.31
59
-28
87
S. S1º 10' W.
20
6.05
13.00 18.00
1.99 17.88
February,
19.58 27.97
58
-34
92
S.51 16 W
15
4.47
12.17 16.05
1.83 16.46
March,
29.60 36.24
72
-22
94
S.53 23 W
28
8.31
14.50 16.50
1.48 13 36
April,.
46.36 50.01
80
14
64
S.49 09 W.
25
7.52
17.11 12.89
1.86 16.85
May,.
55.01 58.88
88
2:
65
S.51 06 W.
37
11.19
18.50 12.50
2.45 12.05
June,
63.20 66.06
95
23
72
S.59 03 W.
45
13.53
19.56 10.44
2.48 22.2S
July ....
68.15
71.15
98
59
S.60 41 W.
54
16.32
22.78, 8.22
2.96 26.66
August,
66.58
65.86
98
3(
68
S. 74 27 W.
32
9.52
19.05 11.95
2.60 23.40
September,.
63.65
56.44
90
71
S. 53 36 W.
19
5.75
15.50 14.50
4.02 36.20
October,.
31.59
16.37
78
14
64
S. 55 58 W.
26
7.83
13.89 17.11
4.00 36.02
November,.
41.68
32.74
65
66
S. 64 44 W.
15
4.51
8.28 21.72
2.86 25.74
December,
26.10
25.68
56
-3(
92
S.45 15 W.
15
4.40
9.2221.78
2.12 19.03
Mean,.
44.74
16.64|
98
-3
134
S. 59° 05, WV.|
26
7.98
15.21 15.14
2.55 22.99
Highest degree, July 10, 1834, and August 5, 1839, 98º. Lowest degree, December 16, 1835, 35°. Extreme range in nine years, 133º. Mean monthly range, 742°. Greatest monthly range, in March. Least monthly range, in July. Driest month, March. Wettest month September. Total fall of rain and snow in nine years, 22 feet, 11.99 inches.
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