Page:Report on the geology of the four counties, Union, Snyder, Mifflin and Juniata (IA reportongeologyo00dinv).pdf/321

Rh it is quite probable that many of them will remain permanently so.

McCoy’s ore bank was situated a little east of the stream in the first synclinal ridge north of McVeytown, The Marcellus ore bed was here found 3′ to 5′ thick. No great quantity of ore was mined at this point, although it is contended that a large quantity of hematite and carbonate exist along this narrow slate valley. When the old Brookline furnace, situated a little further north but in this McVeytown gap, was in operation, this ore might have been advantageously used; but being largely carbonate its use at that date was not understood, and all the ores smelted at this old furnace were hauled at great expense across Jack’s mountain from the Kishacoquillas valley.

The Ross ore bank is situated in a similar geological position in the second basin about 1 mile north of McVeytown, and was by all odds the most extensive and successful ore-mine in the county. Various furnaces as far east as Harrisburg derived a portion at least of their stock from this mine; and when the old Matilda furnace at Mt. Union was remodeled for coke iron, it had expected to get the largest part of its ore supply at this point, where a considerable amount of mining was actually done for that furnace, which still holds a lease upon the property. The gap in which this ore occurs is very deep and picturesque, and as the dip of the measures in the synclinal is very steep, the outcrop attains a height of 350′ above the level of the stream.

About 75′ above the creek a drift was started in the No. VIII shales and driven across the synclinal towards the north cutting an ore-bed showing brown hematite ore from 3′ to 5′ thick. This cross-cut passed through beds of black limestone, shale, and carbonate ore, spread through 28′ of measures, none of the alternating bands being over a foot in thickness. This ore yielded upon analysis 42½ per cent. of iron; sulphur, .260; phosphorus, 135; insoluble residue 3.390.

Ore has been found upon both dips of the synclinal here and along the north side of the basin; but on the south dip