St. Lawrence County has long been known by geologists and manufacturers for its rich mineral deposits. One of the longest continually-operating mines in the region is Balmat near Gouverneur, NY. The ore bodies found in Balmat are unique and world-famous to both industrial processors and specimen collectors.
On Thursday, September 28, 2023, at noon, geologist William deLorraine will discuss some of the interesting minerals found in Gouverneur and the geology of the larger region at the St. Lawrence County Historical Association in Canton, NY.
DeLorraine was the principal geologist at the St. Lawrence Zinc Company in Balmat for over 30 years. He graduated with a geology degree from SUNY Potsdam in 1974, and then worked as a mine geologist and core logger for the St. Joe Zinc Company in the Balmat mines, before entering grad school at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
He has published and co-authored numerous scientific papers on the geology of the Balmat mines and the Northwest Adirondacks. Most recently, DeLorraine co-authored the Collectors Guide to the Balmat Mining District, St. Lawrence County, NY (Schiffer, 2018).
There is a $5.00 suggested donation; members are free. The St. Lawrence County Historical Association is located at 3 East Main Street, in Canton, NY. Museum hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 am to 4 pm, and Archives hours are Tuessay through Friday, noon until 3:30 pm.
Photos, from above: Miners working at the Balmat mine, ca. 1940s; and the Balmat mine and mill, ca. 1940s.
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