Research

Scope and Content Note

The series consists of statistical reports on the production of various minerals in New York State. Prior to World War II, mineral surveys were conducted, and the resulting reports were compiled and distributed, by the U.S. Geological Survey (Dept. of the Interior) and later the U.S. Bureau of Mines (Dept. of Commerce). Reports for separate minerals are gathered together in groups of annual state totals.

A transmittal letter shows the 1920 production statistics were sent to C.A. Hartnagel at the State Geological Survey. Other correspondence (1936) is addressed to D.H. Newland as State Geologist. Begining in 1926 the state geologist apparently began collecting such mineral production data in cooperation with the Bureau of Mines. There are New York State Museum date stamps on the records for 1949, many years after the last report date (1935). This supports the conclusion that the Geological Survey compiled such information on mineral rersources for statistical and research use, but that the full processing of material sent by the federal government was delayed.