UC61EY 
 
 RARY 
 
 ERSITY OP 
 
 IFORNIA 
 
 TH 
 NCES 
 
FIRST 
 
 ANNUAL REPORT 
 * ' ' 
 
 ON THE 
 
 OP THE 
 
 STATE OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE, 
 
 BY CHARLES T, JACKSON, 
 STATE GEOLOGIST, 
 
 CONCORD, N. H. 
 
 CYRUS BARTON, STATE PRINTER 
 
 1841. 
 
 

 EARTH 
 
 SCIENCES 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
RESOLVES 
 
 OF THE LEGISLATURE AUTHORISING THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 
 OF THE STATE. 
 
 AN ACT to provide for the Geological and Miner alogi- 
 cal Survey of the State. 
 
 SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in Gen- 
 eral Court convened, That the Governor of this State is hereby authorized and re- 
 quired as soon as may be after the passage of this act to appoint a State Geologist, 
 who shall be a person of competent scientific and practical knowledge of the sci- 
 ences of Geology and Mineralogy ; and the said State Geologist shall by and with 
 the consent of the Governor and Council, appoint one suitable person to assist 
 him in the discharge of his duties, who shall be a skillful, analytical and experi- 
 mental chemist. 
 
 SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the said State 
 Geologist and his said assistant as soon as may be practicable after their appoint- 
 ment, to commence and carry on, with as much expedition and despatch as may be 
 consistent with minuteness and accuracy, a thorough Geological and Mineral- 
 ogical survey of this State, with a view to determine the order, succession, ar- 
 rangement, relative position, dip or inclination, and comparative magnitude of the 
 several strata or geological formations within this State, and to discover and exam- 
 ine all beds or deposites of ore, coal, clay, marls, and such other mineral sub- 
 stances as may be useful or valuable, and to perform such other duties as may be 
 necessary to make a full and complete Geological and Mineralogical survey of the 
 State. 
 
 SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the said assist- 
 ant to make full and complete examinations, assays, analyses of all such rocks, ores, 
 soils or other substances as may be submitted to him by the State Geologist for 
 that purpose 3 and to furnish him with a detailed and complete account of the re- 
 sults so-obtained. 
 
 SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the said State 
 Geologist, on or before the first day of June in each and every year during the time 
 necessarily occupied by said survey, to make an annual report of the progress of 
 said survey, accompanied with such maps, drawings and specimens as may be ne- 
 cessary and proper to exemplify and elucidate the same to the Secretary of the 
 State who shall lay such report before the Legislature. 
 
 SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the said State 
 Geologist to cause to be represented on the map of the State by colors and other 
 appropriate means, the various areas occupied by the different geological forma. 
 
 298844 
 
IV 
 
 tions in the State, and to mark thereon the localities of the respective beds or de- 
 posites of the various mineral substances discovered, and on the completion of the 
 survey to compile a memoir of the Geology and Mineralogy of the State, com- 
 prising a complete account of the leading subjects and discoveries, which have been 
 embraced in the survey. 
 
 SEC. 6. And be it further enacted, That it shall also be the duty of the said 
 State Geologist to forward to the Secretary of the State from time to time during 
 the progress of said survey such specimens of the rocks, ores, coals, soils, fossils 
 and other mineral substances, discovered and examined, as may be proper and ne- 
 cessary to form a complete cabinet collection of specimens of Geology and Min- 
 eralogy of the State 5 and the said Secretary shall cause the same to be deposited 
 in proper order in some convenient room in the State Capitol, there to be preserv- 
 ed for public inspection. 
 
 SEC. 7. And be it further enacted, That for the purpose of carrying into effect 
 the provisions of this act, the sum of two , thousand dollars is hereby annually ap- 
 propriated for the term of three years to be expended under the direction of the 
 Governor. Provided however, That the salaries of the said State Geologist and 
 his assistant shall not commence until they shall have entered upon the execution 
 of their duties ; and upon the completion of said survey and of the duties con- 
 nected therewith, they shall wholly cease and determine. 
 
 MOSES NORRIS, Jr., Speaker of the House of Representatives. 
 JAMES M'K. WILKINS, President of the Senate. 
 
 Approved June 24, 1839. 
 
 JOHN PAGE, Governor. 
 
 EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT. 
 
 September, 10, 1839. 
 CHARLES T. JACKSON, was Appointed by the Governor, State Geologist. 
 
 EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT. 
 
 December 7, 1840. 
 J. D. WHITNEY, was Appointed Assistant Geologist. 
 
 Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court con- 
 vened, That the Secretary of State be directed to procure ten hundred printed 
 copies of Dr. Jackson's first annual report upon the Geological and Mineralogical 
 survey of the State, and that said Secretary have the same in readiness for distri- 
 bution on the first Wednesday of June next. 
 
 MOSES NORRIS, Jr., Speaker of the House of Representatives. 
 JAMES B. CREIGHTON, President of the Senate. 
 Approved Dec. 10, 1840. 
 
 JOHN PAGE, Governor. 
 

 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 IT will not be thought improper, at the commencement 
 of a Geological Survey of the State, to make a few intro- 
 ductory remarks concerning the nature and objects of such 
 a Survey ; for there are many citizens of the State who 
 are not so fully acquainted with the subject as to be able 
 to form a just idea of the magnitude and importance of 
 the work. Those who are familiar with the science and 
 with the history of such operations, will therefore indulge 
 us in such elementary explanations as may be needed by 
 those to whom the Science of Geology is unknown. 
 
 A Geological Survey comprises, first, an examination of 
 the nature and extent of the different kinds of rocks which 
 form the solid basis of the State. Secondly, an account 
 of the nature, extent, and economical value of the useful 
 substances which occur in the earth or in the rocks. 
 Thirdly, it accounts, in a rational manner, for the phenom- 
 ena that present themselves in the structure of the rocks 
 and the associated minerals. 
 
 Under these general heads we shall proceed to examine 
 the different rock formations, their beds and veins of use- 
 ful minerals, and at the close of our remarks, shall inves- 
 tigate the nature and capability of soils, and the best 
 methods of preparing compost manures, which are required 
 for their most successful cultivation. 
 
 ** 
 
 - 
 
6 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 arising from, such a Survey being made by 
 the authority of the State. 
 
 Were Geological Surveys made at individual expense, 
 each person who needed such service employing a geolo- 
 gist and chemist, the expenditure would amount to an 
 enormous sum, and the information being of a partial 
 and local nature, would be very incomplete. When, 
 however, the cost of the work is defrayed from the pub- 
 lic treasury, and the surveys carried generally over the 
 State, the expense to each citizen is so trifling that it be- 
 comes of little importance, the amount per annum being 
 less than a cent to each citizen. At the same time a more 
 full and complete account is obtained of the natural re- 
 sources of the State, the localities being compared with 
 each other, so that all unreasonable expectations are check- 
 ed, and the most important places alone become objects of 
 economical exploration. Thus when a small deposit on 
 one farm is alone considered, it might be thought too val- 
 uable unless compared with one more extensive that 
 might supersede it and prevent profitable working or one 
 locality may be more favorably situated, so as to prevent 
 others from competing with it in the market. 
 
 In addition to the above-mentioned advantages, we may 
 remark that a State Survey is public property, the work 
 being done by command of the whole people, through 
 their Representatives, who bring back to them a report of 
 its results. Thus no one individual is enabled to take ad- 
 vantage of the ignorance of others, but all fare alike, so 
 that injurious speculations never result from such surveys, 
 their tendency being to equalize information so as to pre- 
 vent them. 
 
 A survey made under the orders of Government is of 
 the highest authority, and is always considered good evi- 
 dence respecting the value of the localities which are ex- 
 
INTRODUCTION. 7 
 
 plored. The Report is therefore a Document of no small 
 importance to the citizens of the State. Such Documents 
 are preserved in the public Archives, and will be referred 
 to hereafter by posterity, to ascertain the condition of sci- 
 entific and practical knowledge among their progenitors. 
 It becomes us, therefore, to carry on such a survey in a 
 manner commensurate with the magnitude and importance 
 of its object, so that it may be a faithful record of the 
 knowledge of the times. 
 
 Geological Surveys are called for by the general increase 
 of knowledge among men ; and that such a call is made, 
 let us adduce in testimony the fact that no less than twenty 
 among the twenty-six States of the Union have either made 
 such Surveys or have them now in progress. 
 
 This fact is a most striking commentary on the general 
 progress of intelligence throughout the country, and the 
 most decisive evidence of the general belief in the utility 
 of such explorations. 
 
 This state of things is highly creditable to the com- 
 munity ; and were the results only such as to contribute 
 to the general advancement of science, the researches 
 would be highly useful, and the spirit which prompted 
 them would be regarded as liberal, and as indicative of a 
 high state of civilization. When we look to the impetus 
 given to the intellectual powers which are brought to bear 
 upon so important a subject, the general cultivation of 
 Geological Science cannot fail to be a matter of congrat- 
 ulation. Considering these advantages as merely collate- 
 ral, we may look upon the practically useful results that 
 have arisen from such surveys as highly important. The 
 true resources of the country are brought forth and ren- 
 dered available to all. Not only useful minerals are dis- 
 covered, and the requisite instructions given for the best 
 methods of working them, but a vast waste in absurd re- 
 
 
8 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 searches for ores of metals, and for coal, is prevented, by 
 timely notice of the fact that, in certain localities, such ex- 
 pectations are vain. 
 
 Agriculture also profits from Geological Surveys, by 
 the analytical reseaches which are made to determine the 
 nature and composition of soils ; for the Geologist indi- 
 cates the origin and distribution of the matters which form 
 their substance, while the Chemist ascertains their exact 
 composition. 
 
 Then having discovered the nature of barren and of fer- 
 tile soils, the best modes of improvement of the poorer 
 soils are ascertained, and it often happens that the Geolog- 
 ical Surveyor can point out deposits of natural substances 
 which are adapted to their amelioration. Thus the dis- 
 covery of Limestone, Marl, or of Peat and swamp Muck, 
 is hailed as an important event in the progress of the 
 Survey. 
 
 By Chemical researches we are enabled to direct the far- 
 mer how to improve his soils in the most rapid and certain 
 manner, and how to form the cheapest and most powerful 
 composts ; for the theory of the management of these mat- 
 ters is exclusively within the domain of chemistry, and all 
 is uncertain in the business without a very exact knowl- 
 edge of that science, 
 
 By mutual exchanges of Reports, each State may pos- 
 sess itself of a knowledge of the condition of the others, 
 and the General Government may provide itself with a 
 very valuable mass of statistical information. Each State 
 as a partner of the Confederation gives an account of its 
 resources, and it will be seen what peculiar advantages 
 they possess, so that any person wishing to change his 
 residence may act understandingly, knowing what he 
 can enjoy at home or elsewhere. 
 
 To the capitalist such information is of inestimable val- 
 ue, since he may learn where he can make the most profit- 
 
INTRODUCTION. 9 
 
 able investments, and the value of each section of country 
 will be properly appreciated. 
 
 Statistical information concerning the resources of each 
 State tends to increase its credit, both at home and abroad. 
 
 Geology has done much to remove ancient errors and 
 prejudices, and has substituted rational information in their 
 stead. Rarely do we hear of the magical divining rod by 
 which swindlers gulled the ignorant. Nor do we so fre- 
 quently hear of coal mines in Granite rocks, or that Iron 
 Pyrites or Yellow Mica are mistaken for Gold, Silver, or 
 Brass. 
 
 All now understand that science and labor can alone re- 
 veal to us the existence of valuable minerals, and that the 
 rules of the art are founded on observation and experience, 
 guided by the light of science. 
 
 Annual Reports will be made, giving an account of the 
 progress of the work ; and when the Survey is completed, 
 or is in a sufficiently forward state to warrant the at- 
 tempt, a general or complete Report will be drawn up, il- 
 lustrated by an atlas containing a colored Geological Map, 
 with sectional profiles, shewing the situation of the rocks, 
 elevations and depressions of the surface of the country, 
 and a few lithographic drawings of remarkable and inter- 
 esting scenery. Where required, we shall also give plans 
 of mines, furnaces, lime kilns, and such other diagrams as 
 may be useful. 
 
 A vast amount of labor is yet to be performed before 
 these illustrations can be drawn up in a manner that would 
 be creditable to the State and to the Surveyor. Many sec- 
 tions are already drawn, but they would be incomprehen- 
 sible before the completion of the Geological Map, on 
 which the limits of the rocks are to be delineated. 
 
 In the Chemical department we have been most dili- 
 gently employed during the winter, and the present Re- 
 port will contain a mass of important information concer- 
 
 2 
 
10 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 ning the composition of metalliferous ores, minerals, and 
 soils. No one, unless familiar with Analytical Chemistry r 
 can form a just idea of the difficulty of such work, and of 
 the amount of labor which has been performed. 
 
 During the survey a great number of Astronomical 
 measurements were made to determine the latitudes and 
 longitudes of places in the State. These observations 
 were required for the projection of a true map, and will be 
 reported when the map is completed. Barometrical ob- 
 servations have been made in various parts of the State, 
 along our lines of sections and by comparison with the 
 observations made at Portsmouth at the same hours, we 
 are enabled to calculate the heights of each place where 
 we had observed our instruments. 
 
 In order to have these measurements made correctly, 
 Mr. Brewster of Portsmouth, kindly volunteered, to observe 
 a Barometer which had been compared with ours. His ta- 
 bles are herewith presented. Prof. Young of Dartmouth 
 College, also agreed to assist us by keeping a record of his 
 Barometer and Thermometer at stated times. He has 
 presented us with his results, which will be appended to 
 this report. If suitable care is taken Barometrical meas- 
 urements may be made with sufficient exactness for all 
 practical purposes in Geology for the extremes of error 
 would not be visible on a sectional profile, since the finest 
 hair line would cover them. We occasionally resort to 
 the Theodolite or to the Sextant and artificial horizon 
 in order to measure the height of a mountain, but after 
 long experience find that more dependence can be placed 
 on the Barometer, for atmospheric refraction varies so 
 much in a mountainous country, that the images of moun- 
 tains are constantly varying in height as seen through the 
 Telescope of any instrument for Trigonometrical meas- 
 urements. 
 
 Observations on the variation of the magnetic needle 
 
INTRODUCTION. 11 
 
 have been made in several parts of the State, and they 
 will be continued as we find time to attend to the subject. 
 The dip of the magnetic needle will also be observed in 
 the valleys and on the summits of mountains, as well as in 
 each county of the State. These observations will prove 
 valuable to the land surveyors, who use the Circumfereri- 
 ter in their work. 
 
 During the past summer, I was assisted in the survey by 
 my pupils, Messrs. J. D. Whitney, Moses B. Williams and 
 E. Baker, who generously volunteered their services to 
 the State, and paid their own expenses while employed 
 in the work. Mr. Baker travelled with me, and his la- 
 bors are necessarily incorporated with mine. Messrs. 
 Williams and Whitney engaged to measure sectional pro- 
 files across the State in two diagonals, and have accom- 
 plished their work in a satisfactory mariner. Their report 
 on the routes which they pursued, will be herewith ap- 
 pended, and the sectional profiles will appear hereafter. 
 
 At the close of the field-work we arranged the speci- 
 mens of minerals that had been collected, in the State 
 House at Concord, where they will remain for the use ot 
 the people. 
 
 Three entire suits of specimens are put up in the Cabi- 
 net, and I would respectfully suggest that one set be sent 
 to the Portsmouth Athenaeum, and one to Dartmouth Col- 
 lege, the remaining portion being sufficient for the use of 
 the Legislature. 
 
 When we had effected the arrangement of the minerals, 
 Mr. Whitney was appointed my assistant in the Labora- 
 tory. He has been assiduously engaged with me in the 
 analysis of the minerals and soils of New Hampshire. We 
 have also been aided by Mr. Williams, as a volunteer. 
 The latter gentleman is to aid us as Assistant Geologist in 
 the field during the next summer. 
 
 I am happy in saying that wherever we have travelled 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 in New Hampshire, we have been invariably received with 
 kindness, and every attention has been shewn us that could 
 have been desired. Not unfrequently the towns had, be- 
 fore our arrival, appointed committees to aid us in the work, 
 and sometimes a large number of citizens have gone forth 
 with us among the mountains, to assist in collecting spe- 
 cimens of minerals for examination. 
 
ELEMENTARY PRINCIPLES OF GEOLOGY. 
 
 SUPER-POSITION OF ROCKS. 
 
 The rocks which form the crust of the earth have been 
 examined by Geologists, who have classified them accord- 
 ing to their order of super-position and origin, or by their 
 mineral and fossil contents. Occasionally it has been 
 thought proper to designate certain groups of rocks by 
 names referring to localities, where it was supposed 
 their most characteristic features were presented. f 
 
 Some rocks have evidently been in a melted state, and 
 were erupted from the interior of the globe : others were 
 deposited by water, which held the particles of pre-exis- 
 tent rocks in suspension, or more rarely in solution. Some 
 of the rocks which were originally deposited by water, 
 subsequently underwent changes in structure and compo- 
 sition, by the influence of heat proceeding from the erup- 
 ted rocks. 
 
 Hence we have rocks produced by fire which are desig- 
 nated as of igneous origin, Plutonic or erupted rocks, while 
 those which were deposited by water are styled rocks of 
 aqueous or Neptunian origin, and those deposited by water, 
 and subsequently changed in structure by fire, are named 
 metamorphic rocks. 
 
 Another method has also been proposed, namely, to di- 
 vide rocks into two great classes, without reference to any 
 
14 ROCK FORMATIONS. 
 
 theory of their origin j and those two classes are the un- 
 stratified and the stratified rocks. The unstratified rocks 
 generally are those of igneous origin, while those which 
 are stratified were deposited by water. 
 
 At or near their junction, we find the altered or metam- 
 orphic rocks. 
 
 This method is a very good one for the general groups, 
 but more details are required for the full elucidation of the 
 characters of the subordinate divisions. 
 
 If we consider the rock called Gneiss as a point of de- 
 parture, we shall find above it all the stratified rocks ar- 
 ranged in their order of deposition ; and below it we have 
 the unstratified rocks, and the matter which produced 
 them. 
 
 By upheaving force the matters forming the unstratified 
 rocks burst open the gneiss and many of the strata resting 
 upon it, and the molten rock pushed up from below, filled 
 the chasms, or flowed through them and spread on their 
 surface. It is easy, then, by ascertaining what strata were 
 burst open by veins or dykes, to determine with some de- 
 gree of accuracy their comparative age. 
 
 ROCK FORMATIONS. 
 
 The term formation is applied in Geology to designate 
 groups of rocks, formed under certain conditions of the 
 globe, or their relative ages. Thus we have the primary 
 formation or rocks that, were first produced. They are 
 regarded as the oldest in the series, and were produced 
 anterior to the existence of animals or plants, no traces of 
 organized beings having ever been discovered in them. 
 It is supposed that the earth at the epoch of their forma- 
 tion was not in a suitable condition to allow of the exist- 
 ence of living beings on its surface. 
 
ROCK FORMATIONS. 15 
 
 The rocks belonging to this group are generally of a 
 crystalline character, and bear the impress of igneous ac- 
 tion. Resting upon the primary group, is the next class 
 of rocks, originally named by Lehman, the secondary for- 
 mation, but subsequently Werner proposed to designate 
 the lower series by the name of transition, indicating that 
 they formed a gradation from the primary to the seconda- 
 ry, or that the world was undergoing a transition from an 
 uninhabitable to a habitable state, for in these rocks we find , 
 the first remains of organized beings. There has been 
 much discussion as to the propriety of this term, and ma- 
 ny Geologists prefer to omit it and to return to the numer- 
 ical arrangement proposed by Lehman, calling the transi- 
 tion rocks the older secondary. This method has the ad- 
 vantage of keeping the numerical names of the upper 
 formations, as they now are, allowing the general introduc- 
 tion of such an arrangement is to be adopted. 
 
 The older secondary or transition rocks were deposited 
 by water, and were originally in the condition of fine 
 mud, sand and gravel at the bottom of the sea. This 
 must be evident from the fact that the perfect forms of 
 marine shells and crustaceous animals are preserved in its 
 mass. The fossils called Trilobites are characteristic of 
 this formation. 
 
 This group of rocks extends as high as the coal meas- 
 ures, or the rocks which contain coal. 
 
 We then reach the upper secondary group, which ex- 
 tends to the top of the chalk deposits. The secondary 
 rocks are filled with an infinity of organic remains, 
 both of animals and vegetables. In this formation our vast 
 deposits of bituminous coals and anthracites occur, over- 
 laid and underlaid by shales containing impressions and 
 casts of numerous plants, analogous to the genera which 
 grow only within the tropics, but whose species, like all 
 those embedded in this and the older rocks are extinct. 
 
16 ROCK FORMATIONS. 
 
 Over the coal formation, we find the new red sandstone, 
 lias limestone, oolite and wealden rocks and chalk. At 
 this point the secondary formation ceases, and another 
 class is formed, which consist of clay, calcareous sand and 
 marl, the strata of which are filled with myriads of ma- 
 rine and fresh water shells, and with the remains of plants 
 and of animals of the higher orders. 
 
 This deposit is called the tertiary formation. The ter- 
 tiary rests upon any kind of rock that happened to be up- 
 permost at the epoch of its deposition. 
 
 The primary formation appears to compose the principal 
 portion of the State, so far as the rocks of New-Hamp- 
 shire have been examined. In some limited districts, 
 we have found altered argillaceous slates belonging to the 
 Cambrian System of Prof. Sedgwick. 
 
 Intruded dykes of greenstone trap, also abound. 
 
 A few limited patches of tertiary, a deposit of clay con- 
 taining marine shells, also occur in the vinicity of Ports- 
 mouth. 
 
 The primary rocks frequently contain veins and beds of 
 limestones and metalliferous ores. The stratified rocks of 
 this class, are always highly inclined to the horizon, the 
 angle of the dip being from 40 to 80 degrees. 
 
 Owing to this uptilted state of the strata, it is easy to 
 inspect the order of superposition, and to discover the dif- 
 ferent veins and beds which are included in the rock. This 
 position also aifords admirable facilities for measuring the 
 thickness of the strata. 
 
 Granite. 
 
 Granite is the lowest rock which has been reached by 
 the deepest mines, and it also forms the peaks of many 
 lofty mountains. 
 
ROCK FORMATIONS. 17 
 
 It is the foundation rock on which all the more recent 
 formations rest, and many of the superincumbent strata are 
 made up of its fragments. It is a rock of igneous origin, 
 and has no stratified structure. 
 
 When granite is found cutting through other rocks, the 
 action of intense heat may often be observed at the junction 
 and to a considerable distance beyond the points of contact. 
 
 When it intrudes through slate, that rock is found to be 
 hard and flinty at or near the junction, and the strata 
 marks are generally effaced. 
 
 If the eruption took place through compact or shell 
 limestone, the carbonate of lime is observed to become 
 crystalline or white in the vicinity of the granite. By a 
 series of such observations, the most distinguished Geolo- 
 gists have satisfied themselves that granite was thrown up 
 in an intensely heated or molten state. By slow cooling 
 of a semi-fluid mass of melted rock, crystals are formed 
 in its midst, and in cases where the mass of matter was of 
 great bulk, the cooling took place so slowly as to allow 
 very large and perfect crystals to form. So in granite, we 
 find the rock to be made up entirely of crystals, merely 
 held together by contact and interlacement. 
 
 SIENITE differs from granite only by the substitution of 
 hornblende in the place of mica, but it sometimes contains 
 more felspar. 
 
 Minerals entering into the composition of Granite rocks. 
 
 Three different minerals enter into the composition of 
 regular granite. They are quartz, feldspar, and mica. In 
 addition, there are frequently a number of other species, 
 which are called accidental or associated minerals. Some- 
 times one of the essential ingredients of the rock may be ab- 
 sent, and in such cases it is generally replaced by some oth- 
 er. Hence there are a great number of varieties of gran- 
 ite, such as I shall have occasion to describe hereafter. 
 
 3 
 
18 ROCK FORMATIONS 
 
 QJJARTZ is a glassy looking substance, either trans- 
 parent and colorless, or shaded by various tints, from the 
 presence of metallic oxides. When pare, it consists en- 
 tirely of silex. It is then altogether infusible by the most 
 intense heat of the furnace, or by the common blow-pipe 
 flame. 
 
 It is hard as common flint, and scratches glass readily. 
 When crystallized, it generally is found in the form of a six 
 sided prism, terminated by six sided pyramids at each end 
 of the prism, if the crystal formed in a space where the 
 extremities were free from the rock ; but more frequently 
 one end of the crystal is found implanted firmly in the 
 rock where it crystalized, and then only the free extremi- 
 ty is perfect. 
 
 The primary and simplest form of quartz crystal is rare- 
 ly found. It is a rhomboid having angles of 94 15' and 
 85 45 X Sometimes we can cleave or split a secondary 
 crystal so as to obtain this form. 
 
 The specific gravity of quartz is 2.645, water being con- 
 sidered as unity. 
 
 When struck against steel, quartz tears off small frag- 
 ments of the metal, which take fire in the air, owing to 
 the heat produced by concussion, and the rapid oxidation 
 of the iron or steel by the oxigen of the atmosphere. It 
 will therefore answer for striking fire like flint. 
 
 When two pieces of quartz are struck together in the 
 dark, a faint flash of light is seen, which is not fire, but is 
 an electric phenomenon called phosphorescence. The rock 
 is found, upon friction, to have become positively electric, 
 but the electricity is preserved only for a moment. 
 
 Pure quartz consists of 48.05 per cent of a brown me- 
 talloid substance called silicium, and 51.95 per cent of ox- 
 igen. 
 
 Common sand is composed of quartz or silex. It also 
 enters into the composition of a great number of minerals, 
 
ROCK FORMATIONS. 
 
 19 
 
 and is even found to constitute a certain proportion of all 
 plants. 
 
 Q,uartz is used in the arts for various purposes. Pure 
 and transparent crystals are frequently cut by lapidaries and 
 opticians into ornaments and into lenses for spectacles. 
 The spectacles called Scotch pebble are made of transpa- 
 rent quartz. Some colored varieties of quartz are highly 
 valued in jewelry, those of a dark, smoky yellow being 
 sold for topaz. The fine transparent varieties, when cut 
 and painted on the back, resemble precious stones. 
 
 Q,uartz is. used for making glass, for when it is ground 
 into a powder, and is mixed with proper proportions of 
 potash and red lead, it melts at a white heat into flint glass, 
 and where no red lead is used, but lime is substituted, it 
 forms a white and hard glass, which withstands the action 
 of fire and of chemical reagents much better than flint 
 
 glass. 
 
 In common plate glass, for the manufacture of mirrors, 
 soda is used instead of potash as a flux. 
 
 If too large a proportion of alkali is introduced into glass, 
 it is liable to dissolve in water, and advantage is taken of 
 this property to form a soluble compound which has the 
 property of preventing the combustion of wood, which is 
 impregnated, or covered with a crust of it ; for the sol- 
 uble glass melting when the wood is heated, coats its fibres 
 and prevents their contact with the air, so that they can- 
 not burn. 
 
 Granular quartz is very useful for the manufacture of 
 sand-paper, and it is largely employed for this purpose in 
 New Hampshire. It is also converted into glass at the 
 New Hampshire Glass Works in Keene. Pulverized gran- 
 ular quartz is also mixed with white lead, and is found to 
 be useful for painting exposed parts of buildings, for the 
 wood-work will not readily yield to the penknife when 
 encrusted with quartz. 
 
20 ROCK FORMATIONS. 
 
 The whtte substance found beneath peat-bogs and in 
 swampy places, which is frequently mistaken for marl, con- 
 sists generally of silex combined with water and some veg- 
 etable juices from the peat. This silicious substance is 
 composed of collections of minute infusorial animalculse, 
 which originally lived in the stagnant waters. They have 
 been fully described by Count Erhenberg and by Prof r 
 Bailey. Silicious rocks abound in New Hampshire, and 
 the soils partake largely of the nature of the rocks. 
 
 Felspar. 
 
 This mineral is not so brilliant as quartz, nor is it so 
 hard. It is generally of a white or reddish color, the hues 
 being due to the presence of metallic oxides, which are ac- 
 cidental admixtures. 
 
 Felspar is divided into two varieties, which are distin- 
 guished by the alkalies contained in them. 
 
 That containing Potash is called Orthose, and the vari- 
 ety called Albite contains soda. Orthose is the common 
 felspar. Its characters are as follows : The primary form 
 of the crystal is a doubly oblique prism, whose angles are 
 120 and 60 on the sides, and the inclination of the planes 
 on the base is 112 and 68. Its specific gravity is from 
 2.39 to 2.58. It scratches glass, but yields to the knife. 
 When heated to whiteness before the blow-pipe, it melts 
 into a white enamel. 
 
 A pure crystallized specimen, analyzed by Berthier, yiel- 
 ded in 100 parts 
 
 Silex 64.20 
 
 Alumina 18.40 
 
 Potash 16.95 
 
 Lime traces 
 
 99.55 
 
ROCK FORMATIONS. 21 
 
 Flesh colored felspar, analyzed by Rose, was found to 
 contain 
 
 Silex 66.75 
 
 Alumina 17.50 
 
 Potash 12.00 
 
 Lime 1.25 
 
 Oxide of Iron 0.75 
 
 99.25 
 
 Felspar undergoes a gradual decomposition when expos- 
 ed to the action of air, water, and to vegetable rootlets, and 
 the mould of soils. The carbonic acid gas of mineral wa- 
 ters and of the atmosphere acts upon it, so that the alkali 
 is gradually removed, and the mineral crumbles to a fine 
 powder. 
 
 When the mineral is moist, this action is quite manifest ; 
 but the dry rock is not liable to rapid decomposition, but 
 endures for ages untarnished in its lustre. 
 
 Felspar is the principal source whence plants obtain the 
 potash which exists in their juices and solid substance, and 
 their operations are the only economical methods known 
 of eliminating this alkali. 
 
 Felspar forms by its decomposition a very fine unctuous 
 clay, known under the name of Kaolin. It is highly val- 
 ued for making Porcelain or China ware. 
 
 The mineral in its undecomposed state is also employed 
 for this purpose, and is known in China under the name 
 Petuntze. In order to render the felspar suitable for this 
 purpose it must be heated red hot, then it is to be thrown in- 
 to water, after which it crushes readily and may be ground 
 into a fine powder, which will form a paste suitable for the 
 potters wheel. It is generally allowed to remain for two 
 or more years in a moist cellar, in order to become thor- 
 oughly decomposed, and then it is more plastic and duc- 
 tile. 
 
22 ROCK FORMATIONS. 
 
 When formed into the shape desired, the paste is first 
 dried slowly and then is baked into ware called biscuit, 
 after which it is painted, glazed, burnt or semi-fused into 
 fine porcelain ware. 
 
 Albite. 
 
 This variety of felspar is generally of a pure white col- 
 or, and is less transparent than the orthose. It crystallizes 
 in the form of an oblique prism, the base being an oblique 
 angled parallelogram, having three cleavages whose angles 
 are 118 and 62, 93 30' and 86 30', 116 and 65', the 
 most brilliant of which is parallel with the base. 
 
 Sp. gr. 2.61. It scratches glass, but yields to the 
 knife. It contains no water. Before the blow-pipe it fu- 
 ses into a white enamel. 
 
 The albite of Finland analyzed by Tengstrom con- 
 sists of 
 
 Silex 67.99 
 
 Alumina 19.61 
 
 Soda 11.12 
 
 Lime 0.66 
 
 Oxide of Manganese 0.47 
 Oxide of Iron 0.23 
 
 Cleavlandite, so named in honor of Prof. Cleavland of 
 Bowdoin College, is a variety of albite containing less so- 
 da than exists in the specimen above mentioned. 
 
 The Cleavelandite of Chesterfield, Mass., yielded, ac- 
 cording to the analysis of Stroymeyer, 
 
 Silex 70.68 
 
 Alumina 19.80 
 
 Soda 9.06 
 
 Lime 0.23 
 
 Ox. Mang. and Iron 0.11 
 
ROCK FORMATIONS. 
 
 23 
 
 Another variety of felspar has also been described un- 
 der the name of pericline, owing to its ready cleavage on 
 all the planes of the crystal. It contains both alkalies, 
 potash and soda. 
 
 According to an analysis by Gmelin, it consists of 
 
 Silex 67.94 
 
 Alumina 18.93 
 
 Soda 9.98 
 
 Potash 2.41 
 
 Lime 0.15 
 
 The soda feldspars have not yet been used to any extent 
 in the arts. They abound in New-Hampshire, where the 
 purest kinds may be obtained in any quantities desired. 
 Felspar has been artificially produced in the furnace, and 
 there is every reason to believe that it originated as before 
 mentioned from crystallization in the molten mass, which 
 formed the granite rocks by crystallization. 
 
 MICA. This mineral is also an essential constituent of 
 granite. It is easily recognized by its brilliant laminae, 
 which split readily into thin leaves, when tried by the pen- 
 knife. It is easily distinguished from talc by its elasticity 
 and its want of an unctious feel when rubbed by the fin- 
 gers, the latter characters belonging to talc. Mica splits into 
 laminae of extreme delicacy, the thinnest of which are but 
 1-10000 of an inch in thickness. It is, when pure, per- 
 fectly transparent and colorless, but there are varieties 
 which are colored by metallic oxides, and possess various 
 shades of red, green, brown and black colors. When in a 
 state of decomposition, it frequently presents a rich yel- 
 low color, and is sometimes mistaken by those who are un- 
 acquainted with minerals, for native gold. 
 
 On examining blocks of granite of various shades, it 
 will be found generally, that the colors are produced by 
 the different tints and proportions of the mica, which they 
 contain. In some varieties, however, the felspar is strong- 
 
24 ROCK FORMATIONS. 
 
 ly colored, and in the red granites is the predominant min- 
 eral and coloring ingredient. Our common granites how- 
 ever more frequently owe their colors to the mica. 
 Berzelius divides mica into three species, viz : 
 1st. Mica with a Magnesian base. 
 2d. " " " Potash base. 
 3d. " " " Potash and Lithia base. 
 There are many varieties of mica in New-Hampshire, 
 some of which are different from those which have been 
 analyzed and described. They will be examined and no- 
 ticed hereafter. 
 
 The late Dr. Turner of London, analyzed two varieties 
 of mica from Cornwall, and obtained the following $e- 
 sults : 
 
 Brown Mica. Grey Mica. 
 
 Silex 40.06 50.82 
 
 Alumina 22.90 21.33 
 
 Prot Oxide of Iron 27.06 9.08 
 
 Prot Ox. of Manganese 1.79 
 Fluoric acid 2.71 4.81 
 
 Potash 4.30 8.86 
 
 Lithia 2.00 4.05 
 
 100.82 99.95 
 
 A common variety of granite consisting of three-sixths 
 
 felspar, two-sixths quartz and one sixth mica, according 
 
 to De la Beche, will consist of 
 
 Silica 73.04 
 
 Alumina 18.83 
 
 Potash 8.51 
 
 Magnesia 0.83 
 
 Lime 0.44 
 
 Oxide of Iron 1.73 
 
 Oxide Manganese 0.10 
 
 Fluoric acid 0.18 
 
GRANITE. 25 
 
 A more common variety of- granite, consisting of two- 
 fifths quartz, two-fifths felspar and one fifth mica, will con- 
 sist of the following ingredients : 
 
 Silica 74.84 . 
 
 Alumina 12.80 
 
 Potash 7.48 
 
 Magnesia 0.99 
 
 Lime 0.37 
 
 Oxide of Iron 1.93 
 
 Oxide of Manganese 0. 12 
 
 Fluoric acid 0.21 
 
 To which a small proportion of lithia may be added, 
 when the mica contains that alkali. 
 
 On comparing the composition of the granite soils with 
 the above analysis, a remarkable resemblance in composi- 
 tion will be noted. 
 
 It will be observed, however, that some of the ingredients 
 are exhausted from long cultivated soils, especially the al- 
 kaline and earthy ingredients which form soluble combina- 
 tions with the vegetable acids of soils, and are thus taken 
 up by the rootlets of plants. A large proportion of oxide 
 of iron is also found in soils, and this may have been de- 
 rived from the oxidation of iron pyrites, (or the bi-sul- 
 phuret of iron.) 
 
 In many cases we are enabled to replenish the soil with 
 the ingredients that have been removed from them by this 
 process. 
 
 Wood ashes contains a large proportion of potash and 
 lime, hence this substance is found to be very useful on 
 old worn out sandy soils. 
 
 May not pulverized felspar, also answer a useful purpose, 
 since it contains, generally, more than twelve per cent, of 
 alkali, and a small proportion of lime ? Its action would 
 necessarily be slow, for time would be required for its 
 complete decomposition. 
 
 4 
 
26 MINERALS. 
 
 We have now described the essential ingredients of gran- 
 ite rocks, and may devote a few lines to a description of 
 some of the more common accidental minerals which it 
 contains. 
 
 Garnets, black tourmaline, beryls and iron pyrites are 
 among the most common of the minerals which occur in 
 that rock. 
 
 Garnets occur in red or brownish red crystals, having 
 their primary form the rhombic dodecahedron, and with 
 secondary planes produced by replacements of the edges of 
 the primary crystal. 
 
 Its Sp. Gr. is from 3.90 to 4.236. 
 It melts before the blow-pipe into a black globule which 
 is generally magnetic, owing to the presence of the prot- 
 oxide of iron. 
 
 The precious garnet of Bohemia consists, according to 
 the analysis by Vaquelin, of 
 
 Silica 36.0 
 
 Alumina 22.0 
 
 Prot-Ox. Iron 36.8 
 
 Lime 3.0 
 
 97.8 
 
 Finely crystalized garnets occur abundantly in the rocks 
 of New-Hampshire, but they rarely possess a sufficiently 
 rich color to render them valuable in jewelry. 
 
 There are numerous species and varieties of garnets 
 which possess different colors, according to the nature and 
 proportions of the metallic oxides which they contain. 
 
 Thus a light green variety contains a very large propor- 
 tion of lime, and but little oxide of iron, is called from its 
 color, grossular (or gooseberry 'green garnet.) 
 
 The black garnet, or melanite, owes its dark color to the 
 presence of a large proportion of the per-oxide of iron. 
 
 Spessartine or manganesian garnet is highly charged 
 
MINERALS IN PRIMARY ROCKS. 27 
 
 with prot-oxide of manganese, to which its color is part- 
 ly due. 
 
 TOURMALINE. This mineral presents a great number of 
 varieties, which possess different colors, owing to the re- 
 placement of one metallic oxide by another, and by their 
 variable mixture. 
 
 The essential ingredients may be stated in general terms 
 to be silex, alumina, and boracic acid with different metal- 
 lic oxides. 
 
 The most common variety is the black tourmaline, com- 
 monly called schorl. It abounds in the primary rocks, 
 and is sometimes mistaken for coal, on account of its ap- 
 parent resemblance to anthracite. The want of combus- 
 tibility is, however, sufficient to distinguish it from that 
 substance. 
 
 Black tourmaline consists, according to Gmelin, of 
 Silex 37.65 
 
 Alumina 33.46 
 
 Potash and Soda 2.55 
 
 Magnesia 10.98 
 
 Oxide of Iron 9.38 
 
 Boracic acid 3.83 
 
 It melts with difficulty before the blow-pipe, and forms 
 a brown or black enamel. 
 
 Its specific gravity is from 3 to 3.43. 
 It scratches quartz but is softer than topaz. 
 Some varieties of the tourmaline are strongly electric 
 when heated. 
 
 BERYL is an abundant mineral in New-Hampshire, and 
 occurs in granite rocks. The largest specimens known in 
 the world, were obtained from Acworth. Smaller but 
 very perfect crystals are found in Grafton and in Alstead. 
 
 Beryl is a variety of emerald, and differs from that gem 
 only in the want of the rich green color due to a minute 
 quantity of chromic oxide. 
 
28 
 
 MINERALS. 
 
 Beryl of Siberia, analyzed by Klaprotk, consists of 
 Silica 66.45 
 
 Alumina 16.75 
 
 Glucina 15.50 
 
 Oxide of Iron 0.60 
 
 The Emerald of Peru consists of 
 
 Silica 68.50 
 
 Alumina 15.75 
 
 Glucina 12.50 
 
 Oxide of Chrome 0.30 
 
 Oxide of Iron 1.00 
 
 Beryl crystallizes like the emerald in the form of six 
 sided prisms, terminated by plane summits. The ter- 
 minal edges and angles are not unfrequently replaced by 
 tangent planes which rarely cover the plane termination. 
 Its specific gravity is 2.7. 
 
 It scratches quartz with difficulty, and is scratched by 
 the topaz. 
 
 It melts with difficulty before the blow-pipe flame into 
 vesicular glass. In another section of this Report will be 
 seen an analysis of the Beryl from New-Hampshire. 
 
 IRON PYRITES, or the Bi-sulphuret of Iron, is a very com- 
 mon mineral, and is often mistaken by persons unacquaint- 
 ed with minerals, for Gold, Silver or Brass, according to a 
 the accidental tints which it may possess. 
 
 It has generally a whitish gold yellow color, crystalli- 
 zes in right square prisms, nearly aprOximating to the cube 
 or in cubic forms. Its specific gravity varies from 4.6 to 5. 
 When heated before the blow-pipe, it burns with a blue 
 flame, and the odour of burning sulphur is perceived. 
 
 The globule remaining after fusion upon charcoal, is the 
 proto-sulphuret of Iron, and is strongly magnetic. The 
 globule is not malleable, but breaks into brilliant fragments 
 of a white color, having a metallic lustre. If a little di- 
 luted sulphuric acid is poured upon its powder, the odor of 
 
MINERALS. 29 
 
 sulphuretted hydrogen is at once perceived. By these 
 tests any one may learn to distinguish this mineral. 
 
 According to the analysis of Berzelius, Iron Pyrites 
 consist of 
 
 Sulphur 54.26 
 
 Metallic Iron 45.74 
 
 Or of one equivalent of Iron to two of Sulphur. 
 
 There are many varieties of Pyrites, some of which 
 contain Arsenic, Cobalt or Copper in variable proportions, 
 the sulphurets of their metals being capable of replacing 
 a portion of the sulphuret of Iron. 
 
 Brown Pyrites sometimes contains minute particles of 
 metallic Gold, or of Silver, intermixed with its substance or 
 included in the fissures and striae, and the fine particles of 
 gold appear when the crystals of pyrites decompose. Au- 
 riferous pyrites occur in Virginia, N. Carolina, in Georgia, 
 and also in the Ural Mountains of Siberia. No gold has 
 yet been found in the Brown Pyrites of New-Hampshire. 
 
 COPPER PYRITES, or the Sulphuret of Copper and Iron, is 
 a valuable mineral. It occurs in considerable abundance 
 in New-Hampshire. 
 
 It may be distinguished easily by the following proper- 
 ties. It is much softer than Iron Pyrites, and is easily cut by 
 the knife, while Iron Pyrites is found to be very hard and 
 brittle. 
 
 Copper Pyrites, when pulverized and dissolved in nitric 
 acid, may be tested for copper by plunging a polish- 
 ed piece of steel into the acid solution, when metallic 
 copper will pricipitate on the surface of the steel. Or the 
 clear solution may be super saturated with Ammonia, 
 when the oxide of Iron will be thrown down as a brown 
 precipitate, and the super-natant solution will have a fine 
 azure blue color, since it contains all the oxide of copper 
 in solution. 
 
 If Copper Pyrites is roasted on charcoal before the blow- 
 
30 MINERALS. 
 
 pipe, so as to expel most of the sulphur, and is then melt- 
 ed with carbonate of soda, globules of metallic copper 
 may be separated, and will be seen on the surface of the 
 charcoal. 
 
 Pure copper pyrites consists of 
 
 Sulphur 35.87 
 
 Metallic Copper 34.40 
 
 Metallic Iron 30.47 
 
 or of one equivalent of Copper, one of Iron, and two 
 of Sulphur. 
 
 The above descriptions may be of service to persons who 
 wish to investigate the nature of such minerals as occur 
 associated with the primary rocks. 
 
 There are many others which are occasionally found in 
 this class of rocks, but for want of room in this introduc- 
 tion, I must refer the reader to special works on Mineral- 
 ogy. 
 
 Gneiss. 
 
 In the ascending order, we come next to a rock com- 
 posed of the same minerals as Granite, but which is more 
 or less distinctly stratified in its structure. It is known 
 under the name of Gneiss. 
 
 It reposes directly on Granite, and may be considered as 
 a variety of that rock. Owing to its stratified structure, 
 Gneiss splits parallel to the planes of the mica, and large 
 slabs may be readily obtained. 
 
 It is extensively used for building and for stone walls. 
 The more compact varieties are commonly sold under 
 the name of Granite. 
 
 Some Geologists consider Gneiss to be a metamorphic 
 rock, and as having been originally formed by sedimentary 
 
GNEISS. 31 
 
 deposit from aqueous suspension. Others suppose that its 
 stratified structure is due to crystallization in laminae, 
 and that it is merely the upper crust of Granite. 
 
 If Graphite (or black lead) originated exclusively from 
 vegetable matter, there is reason to believe that the Gneiss 
 once existed as a sedimentary deposit on which vegetables 
 grew, for that mineral is not unfrequently found dissemi- 
 nated in the rock. The enormous thickness of the strata 
 seems to be an objection to the theory of its metamor- 
 phic origin, for how intensely heated must the Granitic 
 rocks have been when erupted to have indurated strata 
 several thousand feet in thickness. Its origin is therefore 
 yet an undecided point in Geology, and one which may 
 hereafter be settled by the comparison of facts observed at 
 different places. New Hampshire affords the best opportu- 
 nities for the solution of this problem, for nowhere in the 
 country are there such enormous and reiterated strata of 
 this rock. 
 
 The minerals included in Gneiss are similar to those 
 found in granite. Veins and beds of metalliferous ores also 
 frequently occur. 
 
 MICA SLATE is composed of the minerals mica and 
 quartz. The mica is dispersed in regular layers, and is in- 
 terstratified with fine grains of quartz. 
 
 It splits readily into sheets, the surfaces of which are 
 brilliantly plated with the crystals of mica. 
 
 When the laminae are uniformly in the same plane, the 
 rock splits into large even tables, which are highly valued 
 for nagging stones, and they are extensively used for ma- 
 king side-walks in our large cities. 
 
 Mica Slate is generally considered a metamorphic rock, 
 formed by the strong ignition of sedimentary deposits of 
 the fine particles of granite from water. It exhibits a 
 gradual passage into Argillaceous Slate, which certainly is 
 
32 MICA SLATE. 
 
 a rock of sedimentary origin : hence we have reason to 
 believe Mica Slate was produced in the same manner, it 
 having been exposed to a more intense heat, so as to form 
 a decidedly crystalized aggregate. 
 
 The strata are frequently contorted and doubled over by 
 the intrusion of Granite which has been elevated through 
 its mass. 
 
 In this rock occur a great abundance of valuable and cu- 
 rious minerals. Beds of Limestone, veins of Iron, Lead, 
 Copper, Tin, and Arsenic ores. 
 
 It is a highly metalliferous rock, and should be examined 
 with great attention. I shall have occasion hereafter to 
 give a very full and complete history of the minerals which 
 occur in it in New Hampshire. A sufficient number of 
 examples will be found in this Report to prove it to be 
 one of the most interesting rocks in the State. 
 
 CHLORITE SLATE is of a dark green color. It is soft, and is 
 easily cut with the knife, and when freshly broken, may 
 be scratched by the finger-nail. It is not so unctuous as 
 Talcose Slate. In the fire it resists an ordinary red heat, 
 but may be melted at a higher temperature into a black 
 slag. When compact and free from quartz, it may be turn- 
 ed in the lathe into various useful articles, such as ink- 
 stands, vases, &c. 
 
 The compact or crystaline variety which occurs in veins 
 is, however, preferable for this purpose. It was from this 
 mineral that the Aboriginal inhabitants of the Eastern 
 States more frequently carved their stone pots and calu- 
 mets. 
 
 At present the Indians of Maine frequent the Chlorite 
 veins of Cross Island, for the purpose of obtaining pipe- 
 stone. 
 
 It serves most perfectly for the purposes above indicated. 
 
 Associated with chlorite there frequently occur fine crys- 
 
MICA SLATE. 33 
 
 tals of Magnetic Iron ore, in the form of the regular Oc- 
 tahedron. 
 
 Beds of serpentine and soapstone often occur beside 
 those of chlorite, and their frequent association seems to 
 indicate a similar origin. 
 
 Hornblende, Talcose, and Chlorite Slates often occur in 
 situations analogous to Mica Slate, and frequently alternate 
 with the latter rock. These rocks are easily distinguished 
 by the presence of the minerals from which they derive 
 their names and characters. Hornblende Slate is frequently 
 charged with crystals of Garnet and a few other acciden- 
 tal minerals, which will be noticed hereafter. Talcose 
 Slate is distinguished by its color, softness, and unctuous 
 feel when it is rubbed by the fingers. It is a valuable 
 rock, since it furnishes an infusible material for the con- 
 struction of furnaces and lime-kilns, and when compact 
 and soft, it is largely employed in the arts under the name 
 of Soapstone (sometimes called in New Hampshire, Free- 
 stone. ) This rock exists abundantly in the State, and is 
 wrought to some extent. 
 
 Included in Talcose Slate occur several valuable ores, 
 such as Iron, Copper, Gold and Silver. The latter metals 
 have not yet been found in New Hampshire, but at Clare- 
 mont a variety of Pyrites is found disseminated in it which 
 exactly resembles the Auriferous Pyrites of Siberia and of 
 the Southern States. Although I do not consider the pre- 
 cious metals so worthy of attention as those which are 
 more commonly serviceable, yet I would direct the atten- 
 tion of those who are desirous of discovering these metals 
 in the State to an attentive examination of this rock. It 
 must, however, be remembered, that gold is rarely found 
 in particles visible to the naked eye, excepting in the de- 
 composed and washed ore. 
 
34 ARGILLACEOUS SLATE. 
 
 Argillaceous Slate. 
 
 This rock is composed of the finest particles of antece- 
 dent rocks which were deposited slowly by tranquil water. 
 The influence of pressure and heat appears to have con- 
 solidated the clay thus formed into a solid rock, which has 
 a stratified structure, owing to the manner of its deposi- 
 tion. 
 
 By subterranean power the slates have been elevated, so 
 that their strata now form a bold angle with the horizon. 
 The upheaving rock in New Hampshire was evidently the 
 granite, which not only uplifted the strata, but also broke 
 through it, and spread upon its surface. On Piquacket 
 Mountain, in Bartlett, the traveller may observe a striking 
 instance of such a disruption ; for there the broken slate 
 forms a confused mixture with the granite that burst 
 through its strata. 
 
 Argillaceous Slates are of different ages, and were formed 
 under different circumstances. Those to which I now re- 
 fer are deposited immediately upon the primary rocks, and 
 belong to the oldest transition class. Their lower strata 
 do not contain any organic relics, but higher up we find a 
 few remains of marine animals, and plants of the simplest 
 structure. 
 
 Slate rocks are valuable for use in the arts when they 
 have a uniform cleavage, and are even and sound. The 
 more compact varieties are used for grave-stones, while 
 those which are fissile are valuable for covering the roofs 
 of houses. 
 
 REPORTS ON THE SECTIONAL PROFILES OF THE ROCKS. 
 
 In order to ascertain the extent and limits of the prin- 
 cipal rocks, beds, and veins, and their relative situation, as 
 also the elevations and depressions of the surface of the 
 
SECTIONAL PROFILES OF ROCKS. 35 
 
 country, a series of sectional lines were measured and ex- 
 plored in directions alternately transverse and parallel to 
 the general direction of the strata. 
 
 The first of these great sections extends from the south- 
 eastern extremity of the State at Portsmouth, to Clare- 
 mont on the Connecticut River, passing through the State 
 in a. north-westerly direction, and crossing all the N. E. 
 and S. W. strata, nearly at right angles. 
 
 The second great section was laid out on the eastern 
 side of the Connecticut River, and runs parallel with the 
 general course of that river, extending from Northfield in 
 Massachusetts, to Haverhill in New-Hampshire, and pur- 
 sues a direction a few degrees eastward of a meridional 
 line. 
 
 A third section extends from Concord to Wakefield, and 
 the fourth from Wakefield to Haverhill. 
 
 By inspecting the State map, it will be seen that these 
 lines form a series of zig-zags on a large scale, and the pro- 
 file of their Geological features represents the actual struc- 
 ture of the rocks and mountains, the inclination of the 
 strata, centres of elevation, and the nature of the intrud- 
 ed rocks which effected the upheaving of the stratified 
 rocks which repose upon them. 
 
 Those who have not attended to the subject, may not 
 fully understand the nature of these sections, and I would 
 therefore observe, that they represent the structure of the 
 country as it would appear if a straight line was drawn 
 from one of the points mentioned to the other, and then a 
 perpendicular cut was made through the rocks, along the 
 whole length of the line, quite down to the level of the 
 sea. It is customary, in order to avoid a very long profile, 
 to draw plans in such a manner that the scale of the length 
 is considerably less than that of the height, but we have 
 endeavored to keep the proportions within proper limits, so 
 that the sectional profiles have a more natural appearance 
 
36 SECTIONAL PROFILES OF ROCKS. 
 
 than those which are commonly drawn for such purposes. 
 In limited districts, it is easy to draw plans in such a man- 
 ner that the scale of length and of height are the same, 
 but one running across a great State cannot be represented 
 in that manner without elongating the profile so as to ren- 
 der it cumbersome and unmanageable. 
 
 I have seen some beautiful models of the structure of 
 mountainous regions in Switzerland and in Pennsylvania, 
 which were constructed of plaster, stucco, or paper mash 
 mixed with gypsum. Such models may be made to rep- 
 resent the Geological and topographical structure of New- 
 Hampshire, when we have measured the elevations of all 
 the mountains and the depth of the valleys, but the work 
 would prove very expensive, and would require more time 
 than is allowed for the Geological Survey of the State. I 
 hope, however, that some artist will hereafter construct 
 such models of the White Mountain ranges, and there is 
 but little doubt that travellers would most gladly purchase 
 copies of them as Souvenirs of that picturesque region. 
 
 Section First, from Portsmouth through Concord to 
 Claremont. 
 
 Having examined the extremities and some few points 
 on this line, the survey of a sectional Geological profile 
 was confided to my assistants, who performed the work in 
 a satisfactory manner, and their Report is 1 herewith pre- 
 sented in connection with the remarks which I have to 
 offer on the outlines of the Geology of Portsmouth and 
 its vicinity. 
 
 We shall first present a few remarks on the Geology of 
 the Isles of Shoals, which are situated near the south- 
 eastern extremity of our first section. 
 
ISLES OF SHOALS. 37 
 
 Isles of Shoals. 
 
 Through the politeness of Captain Currier of Portsmouth, 
 we were enabled to visit the Isles of Shoals, in the U. S. 
 Revenue Cutter. These Islands form the extreme outposts 
 of the State, and are situated about 10 miles S. S. E. from 
 Portsmouth harbor, in the open Sea. Having frequently 
 seen these Islands at a distance on former occasions, I did 
 not expect to find much that would be interesting in their 
 Geology, but since they form the extreme point of our 
 first section, it became necessary to examine them. There 
 are seven Islands and a few rocks, which have received 
 the name of the Isles of Shoals. They are all composed 
 of ledges of rock, and but few of them possess any soil 
 suitable for agriculture. 
 
 The inhabitants rely mostly on the treasures of the 
 deep for sustenance, are expert fishermen and excellent 
 mariners. Singular as it may appear, it is stated that on 
 these remote and lonely Islands, the first settlers of New- 
 Hampshire fixed their abode, and dwelt there many years 
 before settlements were effected on the main land. It is 
 supposed that an isolated situation was chosen in order to 
 avoid the hostile incursions of the Savages. 
 
 The following are the names of the Islands : 
 
 1st. Star Island, on which is situated the Tillage of 
 Gosport. 
 
 2d. White Island, on which there is a light house. 
 
 3d. Hog Island, which belongs to the State of Maine, 
 has two or three dwelling houses upon it. 
 
 4th. The Londoner is a small rocky Island having a 
 light house upon it. 
 
 5th. Cedar Island. 
 
 6th. Smutty Nose. 
 
 7th. Duck Island. 
 
38 
 
 ISLES OF SHOALS. 
 
 View of Gosport on Star Island off Portsmouth Harbor. 
 
 Gosport is a small village, inhabited chiefly by fisher- 
 men, whose numerous boats moored near the town, pre- 
 sented the appearance of a grove of slender masts. The 
 town has one small meeting house. 
 
 The Island is composed of a coarse variety of granite, 
 having large crystals of white felspar, grey quartz, and 
 but little mica. Intercalated beds of mica slate, also oc- 
 cur in the granite. Through the middle of the Island 
 runs a large dyke of greenstone trap rock, in a N. 50 E., 
 S. 50 W. direction. There is but little soil on the sur- 
 face of the rocks, serving in a few places for kitchen gar- 
 dens for the cultivation of potatoes, and a few ordinary veg- 
 etables. The inhabitants depend on the agricultural pro- 
 duce of the main land, and exchange for them the products 
 of the sea. Hog Island is composed mostly of mica slate 
 rocks, and has a thin covering of soil, but is not cultivat- 
 ed to any extent. 
 
 Duck Island is composed of Granite and Gneiss rocks. 
 The only soil existant on its surface fills the irregular de- 
 pressions of the rocks, and supports a few of the hardy 
 
ISLES OF SHOALS. 
 
 39 
 
 wild grasses, bushes, and a few maritime flowering plants 
 which are common on our Eastern coast. The Island 
 probably takes its name from the abundance of sea fowl 
 which frequent its shores, and deposit their eggs on the 
 rocks or among the grass. 
 
 Owing to the heavy surf which dashed upon the shores 
 of the Islands, we were only able to effect landings in a 
 few places ; the others, being seen from the deck of the 
 cutter as we ran close by them, appeared to consist exclu- 
 sively of coarse granite, broken occasionally into huge cu- 
 boidal blocks, and possessing but little Geological interest. 
 
 White Island, seen from Gosport to the S. W. 7 off Portsmouth. 
 
 Near the light-house at Fort Constitution, on Reases 
 Island, several large and well characterized dykes of Green- 
 stone Trap are seen cutting through the slate rocks, and 
 they occur at numerous other places near the mouth of the 
 River. 
 
 Having seen all that was deemed essential to our pur- 
 pose, we returned to Portsmouth, and continued our re- 
 searches in the vicinity of the town. 
 
40 PORTSMOUTH AND VICINITY. 
 
 Geology of Portsmouth and its vicinity. 
 
 The Geology of Portsmouth is somewhat complicated 
 and difficult, but possesses a high scientific interest. 
 
 The principal rocks are of a metamorphic character, or 
 sach as have undergone marked changes in structure or 
 composition, by the agency of heat. They are continua- 
 tions of similar strata which occur at York, in the State 
 of Maine, and exhibit like phenomena. 
 
 The rocks to which I refer are the dark blue flinty slates, 
 possessing an imperfectly stratified structure a very com- 
 pact texture sonorous when struck by the hammer, and 
 often breaking with a more or less distinctly conchoidal 
 fracture. Occasionally they evince a passage into an im- 
 perfect micaceous slate, especially where they border on 
 granite rocks. 
 
 The strata were doubtless originally deposited in a hor- 
 izontal position, and were formed by the deposition of 
 clayey particles from water. In its first stage, the matter 
 was probably in the state of fine blue clay, but when the 
 eruption of the granite and trap rocks took place, the clay 
 became indurated, and was converted into solid rock, while 
 the strata at that epoch were tilted up and set on their ed- 
 ges, or were elevated from their horizontal position. The 
 same igneous influence which hardened the clay into flinty 
 slate, appears also to have produced a sublimation of Iron 
 Pyrites, or of Sulphur, which, combining with the iron in 
 the clay, formed Bi-sulphuret of Iron, a mineral abound- 
 ing in the flinty slate. Another change is also observed 
 in the flinty slate rocks near the rail-road cutting in the 
 vicinity of Portsmouth. The rock is there filled with an 
 infinity of reticulated veins of carbonate of lime. This 
 crystaline carbonate of lime may have been produced by 
 the fusion of calcareous matter contained in the clay by 
 the action of heat, given out during the eruption of mol- 
 
PORTSMOUTH AND VICINITY. 41 
 
 ten rocks protruded from below ; such a theory of its for- 
 mation being supported by the results of artificial experi- 
 ments, and by observations made at many other places, 
 where such an influence is known to have been exerted. 
 
 Iron Pyrites abounds at the localities above described, 
 and the facts observed appear to give support to the views 
 which we entertain as to the igneous alteration of the rock. 
 
 Subsequent to the elevation of the strata of flinty slate, 
 numerous eruptions of greenstone trap rock took place. 
 Extensive fissures having been formed in the rock, the 
 melted trap rose into, and filled them entirely. From 
 such causes resulted the large veins or dykes. By ob- 
 servations made on the intersections of these dykes, we 
 are enabled to prove that three or more distinct erup- 
 tions of this intruded rock took place. Sometimes the 
 older dykes are cut off, but more frequently they were rup- 
 tured in their midst, and a newer dyke runs either through 
 the middle of the older dyke, or between it and the slate 
 rocks which form its borders. 
 
 Some fine illustrations of the foregoing remarks may be 
 seen on the sea-coast North of the Little Boar's Head. 
 The dykes at that place vary in width from a few inches 
 to ten feet. They generally run in a N. E. and S. W. di- 
 rection, with some irregularities and zigzags. These erup- 
 tions have evidently taken place there, nearly in the same 
 line of direction. The more recent dykes, included in, or 
 collateral with, the older ones, are of a much darker hue, 
 and more compact in texture. The smaller dykes are im- 
 perfectly columnar in a direction at right angles with the 
 rock in which they are included, this structure depending 
 on the surfaces where the cooling commenced. Huge 
 masses of trap rock, which cooled from the upper surface, 
 are generally columnar in a vertical direction, as may be 
 observed in Nova Scotia, on the Eastern coast of Maine, 
 
 6 
 
42 PORTSMOUTH AND VICINITY. 
 
 at Mount Holyoke in Massachusetts, and the Palisadoes on 
 the Hudson River, in New York. 
 
 The observer will also remark at the locality near Ports- 
 mouth, that the strata of flinty slate are much contorted, 
 and that this contortion took place evidently anterior to 
 the eruption of the trap dykes. He will also notice nu- 
 merous veins of compact felspar in the flinty slate, which 
 probably were formed at the epoch of the elevation of the 
 granite rocks. 
 
 The flinty slate occurs also in the town of Portsmouth, 
 and along the banks of the Piscataqua River, where the 
 strata are much broken, the joints being generally in di- 
 rections parallel to those of a rhombic prism. On the mar- 
 gin of the river, near the estate of Col. Ichabod Bartlett, 
 the slate is divided into such rhomboidal masses, and is 
 torn asunder during winter by the action of freezing wa- 
 ter, and produces loose shingle of slate, which pave the 
 shores of the stream. 
 
 The flinty slate region of Portsmouth is surrounded by 
 granite rocks, which, in numerous places, have been erup- 
 ted so as to isolate portions of the slate, by intrusion be- 
 tween their masses. Such phenomena would give to a 
 casual observer the idea that the slates and granite alternate 
 with each other. 
 
 It will be found, on further observation, that such is not 
 the case, for the primary rocks have merely been forced in 
 between portions of the slate. On our way from Ports- 
 mouth to the Boar's Head and Hampton Beach, we had 
 occasion to observe phenomena of the kind above referred 
 to, in the town of Rye. The locality is at the corner of 
 the old road to Portsmouth and the La Fayette road, near 
 the house of Mr. Samuel Langdon, 1 1-2 miles from Ports- 
 mouth. A mass of granite has there- been intruded through 
 the slate, and occupies a considerable area, beyond which 
 the flinty slate again appears, and then gives way to a reg- 
 
GRANITE QUARRY IN RYE. 43 
 
 ular granite and gneiss formation, which extends through 
 a large portion of the town of Rye. 
 
 In Portsmouth the intrusion of granite veins and trap 
 dykes into the flinty slate, may be seen in Shear's Woods. 
 The trap dykes pursue a north-east and south-west direc- 
 tion, and are irregularly columnar in a vertical direction. 
 
 Breakfast Hill is composed of granite and gneiss rocks, 
 and will furnish an abundance of building stone. The 
 strata of gneiss run N. 16 E., S. 16 W., and dip N. 74 
 W., at an angle of 70 from the horizon. 
 
 It will be seen that the flinty slate region in Maine and 
 around Portsmouth is bordered by primary rocks, and to 
 their influence we have, as before stated, ascribed the met- 
 amorphoses which the slate has undergone. The clay 
 forming the basis of the slate may have been produced by 
 alluvial deposits of the fine particles of older granite rocks, 
 and the fineness of the particles shew that it was depos- 
 ited by tranquil waters in a very gradual manner. 
 
 Granite Quarry in Rye. 
 
 In the town of Rye, about a quarter of a mile S. W. 
 from the meeting-house, in the midst of a white-pine 
 grove, a quarry has been opened for obtaining granite, 
 which is a light colored variety, of good texture, and splits 
 tolerably into the forms desired for building stones. 
 
 An abundant supply may be obtained, and the locality 
 will prove valuable, it being in the vicinity of Portsmouth. 
 
MESSRS. WHITNEY AND WILLIAMS' REPORT ON THE SECTION 
 
 FROM PORTSMOUTH TO CLAREMONT, THROUGH 
 
 CONCORD. 
 
 The Geological character of Portsmouth having been 
 before described, Newington is the first town on this sec- 
 tion, proceeding westward. It is undoubtedly underlaid 
 with clay-slate, similar to that which occurs at Ports- 
 mouth, which appears, in situ, at Piscataqua Bridge, where 
 it runs N. 80 W., and dips to the North 82. The sur- 
 face of this town is covered with diluvial detritus, princi- 
 pally of sienitic granite. Large blocks of this rock occur, 
 and it being a handsome building material, it is quarried 
 for underpinning and other purposes. 
 
 The centre of the town is about 150 feet above the sea. 
 
 The clay-slate occurs on both sides of the Bay at the 
 bridge, but proceeding westward it is soon replaced by the 
 sienitic granite, which underlies the town of Durham. 
 This rock, which is of a dark color, and a beautiful build- 
 ing stone, has been quarried to some extent at Durham 
 Point, about three miles from the centre of the town. It 
 there occurs in large tabular sheets, or platforms, from one 
 inch to a foot in thickness. This facility of cleavage ren- 
 ders it a valuable material for almost all building purposes, 
 but it cannot be obtained in blocks sufficiently thick for 
 
46 SECTION FROM PORTSMOUTH TO CLAREMONT. 
 
 columns. The Newmarket Mills are built of the stone 
 from this quarry, and it is a valuable addition to the re- 
 sources of the neighboring country ; but, owing to the 
 transhipment required by the situation of the quarry, it is 
 doubtful whether it can compete, in a foreign market, with 
 others on the coast of Maine, more favorably situated for 
 close access of vessels of any draught of water. 
 
 Good specimens of garnets, black tourmalines, and other 
 minerals common in the primitive rocks, are said to have 
 been found in this vicinity. 
 
 From Durham to Lee, the surface of the country pre- 
 sents evident marks of powerful diluvial action. The 
 granitic sand is heaped up in hills, some of which are of 
 tolerably regular conical shape, and are elevated from two 
 to three hundred feet above the general level of the sur- 
 face. On the summit of one of these elevations, about 
 one and a half miles from Packer's Falls, occurs a numer- 
 ous group of erratic boulders of sienitic granite, somewhat 
 remarkable for their isolated situation and great size. One 
 of them, which has evidently been split in two by the ac- 
 tion of the weather, since its deposition on its present 
 resting place, measures sixteen feet in height. 
 
 Mica slate first occurs, in place, about one half mile E. 
 of Lee church ; its direction is N. 60 E., and dip nearly 
 vertical. It is charged with Iron Pyrites, and is on this 
 account fast decomposing, giving rise to a soil which is 
 not very valuable without suitable amendments. 
 
 Three miles from Lee, a white and beautiful granite 
 shows itself in place, extending for 1 1-2 miles west. 
 This alternates with irregular beds of mica slate, whose 
 general direction is N. 60 E., and dip from 40 to 55 to 
 the south, though in one case a limited bed, filled with 
 quartz veins, and evidently disturbed in position, dips to 
 the north. 
 
 Boulders of sienite granite, and masses of diluvial sand 
 
SECTION FROM PORTSMOUTH TO CLAREMONT. 47 
 
 conceal in a great measure, the under-lying rocks between 
 Durham and Nottingham. 
 
 The centre of the town of Nottingham, or the "Square," 
 is pleasantly situated on a hill, about 450 feet above the 
 sea level. The northern and north-western part of the 
 town is quite rocky, but in general, the soil is well fitted 
 for pasturage, and in a good state of cultivation. Near the 
 centre of the town, on the farm of Mr. Cilley, occurs a 
 large ledge of white granular quartz, which would aiford 
 an inexhaustable supply of this valuable material for va- 
 rious purposes of the arts. Grey granular quartz rock, or 
 " firestone" as it is commonly called, found in the S. E. 
 part of the town, has been mistaken for limestone, of which 
 rock no traces have been yet discovered in this vicinity. 
 The unequal decomposition of nodules of quartz in a dark 
 colored granite, in form nearly resembling foot-marks, has 
 given rise to some amusing speculations, on the part of 
 the neighboring inhabitants. 
 
 The Patuccoway mountains lying on the line between 
 Nottingham and Deerfield, consist of three distinct eleva- 
 tions, rising somewhat abruptly from near Round Pond, 
 known as the Upper, Middle and Lower Mountains. They 
 are based on mica slate, which is fast decomposing into 
 soil, from the action of the iron pyrites which it contains, 
 and they consist principally of sienite granite, on which 
 are piled fragments of the same rock and mica slate, in the 
 utmost confusion. Near the summit of the Lower moun- 
 tain the sienite assumes the form of huge scales, from 12 
 to 18 inches in thickness. 
 
 On the Lower mountain there occurs a dyke of green- 
 stone trap which crosses its summit, and divide it in- 
 to two nearly equal parts. This dyke is singularly 
 columnar, and on the face of a bare ledge, inclined about 
 45, it assumes the form of steps fifteen to sixteen in num- 
 ber, each about nine inches in height; they are known to the 
 
48 SECTION FROM PORTSMOUTH TO CLAREMONT. 
 
 inhabitants as the " Stairs." It varies from six to twelve 
 inches in width, and was traced for a quarter of a mile, 
 till concealed by the soil. Like most of these narrow 
 dykes, the columns were from side to side, of the wall- 
 rock, very evidently a crystalline structure, induced by 
 cooling from the sides rather than from the surface. 
 
 The height of each of these mountains above the sea 
 level, is as follows : 
 
 Lower Mt. 780 feet. 
 
 Upper Mt. 892 feet. 
 
 Middle Mt. 827 feet. 
 
 A ledge of coarse grained and well marked graphic gran- 
 ite occurs near the centre of the town of Nottingham, from 
 under which a small quantity of decomposed talcose rock 
 has been obtained. This deposit is apparently not of suf- 
 ficient extent to be of any practical value. 
 
 It is said that a bed of bog-iron ore occurs about three 
 miles north-west of the centre of the town, which was 
 worked to some extent during the revolutionary war, but 
 the iron not being of good quality, or the supply failing, 
 it was abandoned. Being disappointed in our guide, we 
 were unable to explore it at this time. 
 
 Saddleback Mt. which crosses this sectional line, lying 
 in the towns of Deerfield and Nottingham, is elevated 
 about 1032 feet above the sea level. It consists of mica 
 slate, the strata of which run nearly E. and W., and dip 
 to the north 40. 
 
 This rock contains garnets of fine clove-brown color, 
 but of small size ; also, well crystallized black tourmaline. 
 
 In some cases, the tourmaline in boulders occurring on 
 the side of the Mt., forms a well marked schorlaceous gran- 
 ite. A single well crystallized ruby, of fine color, but of 
 small size, was found at this place. More careful exam- 
 ination will perhaps furnish interesting specimens for the 
 Mineralogist. 
 
SECTION FROM PORTSMOUTH TO CLAREMONT. 49 
 
 Proceeding from this mountain westward, the rocks are 
 mainly coarse grained felsparthic granite, alternating with 
 mica slate, which dips nearly vertically, and is stratifi- 
 ed in a direction nearly N. and S. 
 
 The McKoy Mts. based on mica slate, are from four 
 to five hundred feet in height, wooded and pastured to 
 their summits. 
 
 Soon after leaving Epsom, the diluvial granitic sand, 
 which fills the valley of the Merrimack, varying in depth 
 from ten to one hundred feet, effectually conceals all the 
 rocks in place from sight. This, throughout its whole 
 extent, is covered with low pine trees, with a weak un- 
 der growth. 
 
 At the Free Bridge at Concord, the diluvial sand is ele- 
 vated about 70 feet above the river alluvion, which is there 
 quite narrow. The descent from the plain above, is by 
 means of a natural defile, of suitable width for a road, 
 evidently worn out by the action of water. It would seem 
 that this might have been one of the channels through 
 which the extended plain above was drained, after the de- 
 position of this immense pile of diluvium. Similar defiles 
 occur of great interest on the sandy plains on Westfield 
 River, Massachusetts. 
 
 Concord is built upon the sandy diluvium of the Merri- 
 mack, through which a fine grained white granite occa- 
 sionally shows itself, forming low ridges of hills. In the 
 West Parish, an extensive quarry has been for some time 
 worked. Large quantities of stone have been furnished 
 for the use of the vicinity, and for the Boston market. Of 
 this the State House is built, and it is the best specimen 
 of the rock which could be shown. 
 
 The diluvial sand extends as far as Warner, with a gen- 
 tle rise as we proceed westward. Beds of mica slate ap- 
 pear above its surface. They are often highly pyritifer- 
 ous, and by their decomposition, are adding constantly to 
 
50 SECTION FROM PORTSMOUTH TO CLAREMONT. 
 
 the mass of sand in the valley. They ran N. 45 W. and 
 dip to the north from 50 to 65. 
 
 Large boulders of porphyritic granite are very numer- 
 ous over the surface, from the West Parish of Concord, to 
 the centre of Warner, .where we find the rock itself in 
 place. It is a peculiar rock, having large crystals of fels- 
 par uniformly distributed through its mass ; they are often 
 glassy, so as to furnish beautiful and striking specimens. 
 This bed of granite extends across the State in a general 
 N. E. and S. W. direction ; it is from 8 to 10 miles in 
 width, though often interrupted with veins of granite of 
 various texture, often very coarse grained, and containing 
 occasional beds of mica slate. Boulders of this rock, which 
 are easily recognized from their peculiar porphyritic struc- 
 ture, are exceedingly numerous to the south, but we have 
 never found them beyond the northern limit of the rock 
 in place. The fragments, which at first are of great size 
 and little worn by action of the weather, gradually dimin- 
 ishing in size, have been transported at least 10 miles to 
 the south of their native bed. This rock continues on 
 this sectional line, about three miles west of Newbury, 
 where it is replaced by mica slate, which continues to Clare- 
 mont. It is generally very much contorted and filled with 
 quartz veins. At the Sugar River Falls, the strata dip a 
 little to the E. of S., and run N. and S. In this rock crys- 
 tals of pyrites 1-2 inch square abound. 
 
 Green Mt. in Claremont, is based on mica slate ; it con- 
 sists of quartz rock, which has the appearance of regular 
 stratification, but in reality it is a crystalline structure, 
 which divides the rock into huge rhombohedral frag- 
 ments. 
 
 On the side of this mountain in mica slate, occur large 
 crystals of Staurotide of considerable beauty. The mi- 
 caceous slate on Twistback Mt., is interstratified with 
 small beds of impure blue limestone. 
 
SECTION FROM PORTSMOUTH TO CLAREMONT. 51 
 
 Near the centre of the town an excavation has been 
 made, with the expectation of finding iron. The ore is 
 oxide of manganese, with apocrenate of iron and mangan- 
 ese, and is contained in mica slate. 
 
 Sunapee Lake, which is about twelve miles in length, 
 is so near the summit level, that a slight excavation would 
 turn its waters either into the Connecticut, or the Merri- 
 mack. It is elevated about 1080 feet above the sea level, 
 and the descent of its outlet, Sugar River, to the Connect- 
 icut is very rapid. 
 
 The sections drawn by the aid of the Barometer, which 
 these outlines of their Geology are designed to illustrate, 
 are already drawn, and will be published with the other 
 sections and illustrations in the final or General Report. 
 
LONGITUDINAL SECTION PARALLEL TO THE GENERAL COUBSK 
 OF THE CONNECTICUT RIVER. 
 
 While my Assistants were engaged in reconnoitering a 
 series of sections which cross the State in oblique direc- 
 tions, alternately transverse and parallel to the general di- 
 rection of the older strata, I explored the first great longi- 
 tudinal, and a series of transverse sectional lines. The 
 first longitudinal section runs in a North and South direc- 
 tion, parallel to the general course of the Connecticut 
 River, extending from Northfield in Massachusetts, to Ha- 
 verhill in New-Hampshire, and passes over the principal 
 rock formations of the Western portion of the State. The 
 profile of this section represents the elevations and depres- 
 sions of the country, and the manner in which the rocks 
 are disposed. It presents at one view the relative extent, 
 direction, dip, and axes of elevation of the strata, with 
 their principal included beds and veins. It is of an inter- 
 esting character, both in a scientific and practical point of 
 view, since it exhibits the junctions of the argillaceous 
 slates and limestones with the older primary rocks, and the 
 changes which have been effected in the former by the in- 
 fluence of the latter. Beginning at the Southern extrem- 
 ity of this sectional line. I shall describe the outlines of 
 the Geological structure of the country which it intersects. 
 
54 SECTION PARALLEL .TO THE CONNECTICUT RIVER. 
 
 Ill the town of Northfield, near the south-western cor- 
 ner of the State of New-Hampshire, the red conglome- 
 rates and sandstones of the valley of the Connecticut 
 River are seen reposing upon the argillaceous slate rocks 
 of New-Hampshire ; but the sandstone does not cross the 
 State line. 
 
 The conglomerate and sandstone rocks of Northfield 
 consist of rounded pebbles and finer particles of the pri- 
 mary rocks, such as granite, gneiss, mica slate, quartz, and 
 angular fragments of argillaceous slate. These water- 
 worn fragments are cemented together by a paste of argil- 
 laceous and calcareous matter, and are colored red by the 
 per oxide of iron. The cement evidently resulted from 
 the abrasion and decomposition of primary rocks, and was 
 deposited by water among the pebbles, and the whole was 
 subsequently indurated by the influence of heat produced 
 during the elevation of the primary rocks. In several pla- 
 ces, beds of granite are seen protruding from beneath the 
 sandstone. 
 
 The conglomerates of Northfield and of Bernardstown 
 are represented, in Professor Hitchcock's Geological Map 
 of Massachusetts, as the New Red sandstone, a rock which 
 overlies the coal measures of Europe ; and at one time it 
 was supposed that coal might be found beneath the sand- 
 stone of the Connecticut River. 
 
 I am confident, however, that no coal will ever be found 
 in the rocks upon which the sandstone rests in this section 
 of the State, for they do not belong to that formation. If 
 the sandstone in question should ultimately prove to be the 
 New Red, it must be considered as out of place ; and it 
 may prove, like the tertiary, to have been deposited on any 
 rocks that happened to be uppermost at that epoch. Sim- 
 ilar phenomena have been observed on the continent of 
 Europe and in this country. Whoever examines the con- 
 glomerates and sandstones here described, will perceive 
 
SECTION PARALLEL TO THE CONNECTICUT RIVER. 55 
 
 that the hard pebbles of quartz and granite have evidently 
 been rounded by the action of long continued currents of 
 water. We may therefore conceive that, in ancient times, 
 a powerful river of much greater dimensions than the 
 present Connecticut poured its waters through the high- 
 lands, and deposited the detritus of the primary rocks of 
 New-Hampshire, and the slates and lime-stones of Ver- 
 mont, in an estuary at that time existing in the lower 
 valley of the Connecticut. The waters of such a river 
 would have been able to transport these loose materials 
 to their present localities, the coarser pebbles being left 
 where the current was rapid, while the finer particles 
 were deposited in those wide valleys where the current 
 must have been quite moderate. That the waters of the 
 Connecticut once occupied a much higher level is incon- 
 testible, since we have along its whole course regular ter- 
 races of aqueous deposition far more elevated than the wa- 
 ters ever rise in modern times, during the most powerful 
 freshets. Ancient water-marks are also observed abun- 
 dantly on the rocky ledges, at a considerable elevation 
 above the present bed of the river. That the sea entered 
 the valley of the Connecticut in former times, has been 
 most fully proved by the interesting researches of Profes- 
 sor Hitchcock and others, who have examined the deposits 
 of finer slates and sandstones in the lower valley, which 
 contain impressions of fishes and the foot-prints of wading 
 birds of gigantic size. All the facts discovered tend to 
 prove that the sandstones of the Connecticut were pro- 
 duced by a deposition of ancient alluvium from the upper 
 section of the river, and that the fresh waters mingled 
 with those of the sea, at least as far up as Mount Holyoke, 
 and that the deposit took place anterior even to the erup- 
 tion of that mountain, since the trap rocks of which it is 
 composed were protruded through the sandstone, and now 
 
56 ARGILLACEOUS AND METAMORPHIC SLATES. 
 
 rest upon its surface, where they spread out in a molten 
 state, and now overlap the sandstone. 
 
 It would prove highly interesting, did our limits permit, 
 to carry this section throughout the whole valley of the 
 Connecticut ; but this will not be expected in the present 
 Report, which will be limited to the State of New-Hamp- 
 shire and its immediate borders. 
 
 Argillaceous and Metamorphic Slates. 
 
 Our great longitudinal section begins at the Connecticut 
 River, at the south-western corner of the State, at an ele- 
 vation of 462 feet above the sea-level, departing from the 
 plains of Northfield and Bernardstown, which are under- 
 laid by the red conglomerates and sandstones before de- 
 scribed. 
 
 We shall examine next the argillaceous and metamor- 
 phic slates on which the sandstone rests. The argillace- 
 ous slates, as mentioned in a former section of this Report, 
 consist of clayey particles, which were originally depos- 
 ited by water, and were subsequently indurated by the 
 heat of rocks thrown up in an ignited state beneath them. 
 Where the action of the primary rocks was moderated by 
 the thickness or remoteness of the strata of sedimentary 
 rocks, the effect upon them appears to have been simply to 
 produce induration ; but where there was an immediate 
 contact, or close contiguity, the slates underwent consid- 
 erable changes in structure and composition, or are met- 
 amorphic. 
 
 In the towns of Leyden, Bernardstown, and Guilford, 
 may be observed some very interesting peculiarities in the 
 disturbance of the argillaceous slates, such as contortions 
 of the strata, shewing that they were once plastic and soft, 
 crossing and overlapping of strata, effected by lateral 
 
ARGILLACEOUS AND METAMORPHIC SLATES. 57 
 
 thrusts, and the gradual passage or change of argillaceous 
 into micaceous slate. 
 
 The Gorge or Leyden Glen is frequently visited for the 
 sake of its picturesque beauty, and the refreshing coolness 
 of the atmosphere, which renders it a favorite resort for 
 travellers during the heat of midsummer. The curious 
 will also enjoy additional pleasure if they are led to con- 
 template the singular Geological features which this local- 
 ity presents. It is evident that the slates have been pow- 
 erfully acted upon by the protrusion of rocks beneath them, 
 the strata being curved and bent in various directions, 
 while the argillaceous slate exhibits a passage into mica- 
 ceous slate. Veins of quartz are also seen running through 
 the strata, filling fissures originally produced by rupture 
 of its mass. 
 
 In the town of Guilford several deposits of argillaceous 
 slate have been extensively quarried, so that the situation 
 and structure of the strata are exposed to view. One of 
 the most remarkable localities in this town is the slate 
 ledge owned by Mr. Bruce. 
 
 The strata at this quarry are very remarkably situated, 
 and to persons viewing the ledge in front, the slates appear 
 as if they had been broken by a crushing force from above. 
 On more minute examination, it may be seen that such 
 was not the case, but this apparent disorderly situation 
 was produced by a crossing and overlapping of strata, forc- 
 ed out from their original position by a lateral thrust, which 
 may have been effected by the elevation of the neighbor- 
 ing and subjacent primary unstratified rocks. 
 
 This locality also exhibits decisive proof of the fact 
 formerly mentioned, namely, that the slate strata were suf- 
 ficiently soft at the epoch of this disturbance to have suf- 
 fered considerable flexure without breaking ; and we can 
 discover, at the points where flexure and fracture were ef- 
 fected, the degree of flexibility which the slate possessed. 
 
 8 
 
 : . V " 
 
58 
 
 ARGILLACEOUS AND METAMORPHIC SLATES. 
 
 The following diagram exhibits the manner in which 
 the upper strata were forced over those now below, so as 
 to overlap and curve the slates. 
 
 Section of Bruce's Slate Quarry, Guilford. 
 
 On the face of the quarry the strata may be seen cross- 
 ing each other nearly at right angles, and they are broken 
 at their points of contact. 
 
 This quarry is wrought to considerable extent for roof- 
 ing slates, which are solid and durable, but are not so 
 smooth as those from Wales, or from the quarries in Maine. 
 They are used for covering roofs of houses in Brattleboro', 
 and cargoes are sent down the Connecticut River in boats. 
 
 On the Western side of the Connecticut River, the ar- 
 gillaceous slate rocks predominate, forming the sub-strata 
 throughout extensive districts in Vermont, and include 
 many valuable beds of limestone. The same strata extend 
 across the river into New-Hampshire, and overlap the more 
 ancient primary formations of Winchester, Hinsdale, Ches- 
 terfield, Walpole, Charlestown, Unity, and Claremont, ex- 
 hibiting those remarkable and interesting metamorphoses 
 in structure and composition, which have been alluded to 
 in a former section of this Report. It is well known in 
 Europe that the junctions of stratified rocks with the un- 
 stratified, are the points most highly charged with metal- 
 
ARGILLACEOUS* AND METAMORPH1C SLATES. 9 
 
 liferous ores ; hence we are led to expect many interesting 
 discoveries in the district traversed by this sectional line. 
 
 Leaving the sandstone rocks of Northfield, and proceed- 
 ing northwardly, we pass over Long Mt., in Winchester, 
 and descend to the borders of Ashuelot River. Long Mt. 
 is composed of mica slate rocks, the strata of which run 
 N. E. and S. W., and dip to the N. W. The same strata 
 are seen along the banks of the Ashuelot River, in Win- 
 chester. Further to the North we come to granite and 
 gneiss rocks, which form the principal basis of the eastern 
 parts of the towns of Hinsdale and Chesterfield, while on 
 the western side we again observe mica slate strata, which 
 pass insensibly into argillaceous slate, which is frequently 
 charged with iron pyrites. By the decomposition of this, 
 bi-sulphuret of iron, copperas or sulphate of iron, and bog 
 iron ores are formed. The copperas acting upon the ar- 
 gillaceous matter of the slate rocks, forms sulphate of al- 
 umina, which frequently is seen on the surface of moist, 
 sheltered ledges, in the form of an incrustation. Bog iron 
 is formed from the solution of sulphate of iron, which is 
 dissolved from the decomposing rock, and being washed 
 into the lowlands, it becomes by action of the atmosphere 
 converted into per sulphate of iron, which is decomposed 
 by the vegetable matters in the soil, and apocrenated bog 
 iron ore is formed and deposited in low meadows, or on the 
 hill-sides. 
 
 Veins of magnetic iron ore are said to have been found 
 in Winchester, but we had not time to examine the local- 
 ity during the measurement of this section. Iron pyrites 
 occurs disseminated in the argillaceous slates of Chester- 
 field, but I have not learned whether there is a sufficient 
 amount of the ore for the manufacture of copperas, the 
 specimens having been sent to me since we left the field. 
 The rocks which most abound in this town are mica slate, 
 the strata of which dip to the . E. Near Spoiford's pond 
 
60 WESTMORELAND. 
 
 we observed the junction of this rock with the gneiss, the 
 strata of which dip to the N. W. Near this point is a cen- 
 tre of elevation, as shown by the opposite dipping of the 
 strata. 
 
 WESTMORELAND is underlaid by gneiss, granite, and mica 
 slate, in every part of the town where the rocks were ob- 
 served to crop out ; but there is reason to believe, from the 
 direction of the strata of argillaceous slates of Hinsdale 
 and Chesterfield, that they also exist in the western bor- 
 ders of this town, but are concealed by the superficial soil. 
 
 Many interesting minerals occur in the rocks of West- 
 moreland, and have long been sought for by mineralogists 
 as objects of study. Some attempts have been made by 
 the people to discover valuable ores, but most of their re- 
 searches have been fruitless. I was informed by one in- 
 dividual that he had spent no less than thirty years in 
 search of gold and silver ores, and he was still firm in the 
 belief that his labors would be eventually rewarded by 
 such a discovery. On examining the mines where he had 
 spent so much time and labor, we found that he had mis- 
 taken some very small veins of copper and iron pyrites for 
 ores of the precious metals. His researches had, never- 
 theless, resulted in the discovery of some very fine speci- 
 mens of fluor-spar, and tolerably good crystals of quartz. 
 These minerals are found in a vein which is situated near 
 the North Village, on a hill-side two miles S. W. from the 
 meeting-house. The vein consists chiefly of quartz and 
 fluor-spar, with a few small strings and disseminated crys- 
 tals of pyrites. 
 
 The fluor-spar possesses various colors, such as white, 
 purple, green and violet ; but the light green variety is 
 most abundant. It derives its name from the circumstance 
 of its being used by metallurgists for a flux in reducing 
 metaliferous ores. It is from this mineral that chemists 
 obtain that powerfully corrosive acid which has the prop- 
 
WESTMORELAND. 61 
 
 erty of dissolving silex, and forming with it a gas, and of 
 etching upon the surface of glass. Good specimens are 
 sought for by mineralogists, and chemists occasionally re- 
 quire it in their analytical operations, but it has only a ve- 
 ry limited sale. 
 
 Fluor-spar is composed of 
 
 Fluorine 48.13 
 
 Calcium 51.87 
 
 or of two equivalents of fluorine to one of calcium, and 
 yields 27.86 of fluoric acid 
 
 72.14 of lime. 
 
 It is readily cleaved by the knife into its primary form, 
 which is the regular octahedron ; also into tetrahedra and 
 rhomboids. It is harder than calcareous spar, but may be 
 easily scratched by the knife. One of its most beautiful 
 characters is its brilliant phosphorescence when thrown on 
 heated iron. 
 
 The purple varieties of fluor-spar are frequently cut and 
 polished in the forms of vases, and it is also very success- 
 fully employed by the Italians in mosaic work, to repre- 
 sent the rich colors of the grape. 
 
 In the South part of Westmoreland we examined a vein 
 of sulphuret of molybdena, which has been opened on the 
 estate of Mr. Lincoln. This locality is one of great in- 
 terest to mineralogists, and will be visited by many per- 
 sons for the sake of the elegant specimens of minerals 
 which have been brought to light by mining operations. 
 The locality is situated four miles South of the North Vil- 
 lage meeting-house, upon the top of an eminence 956 feet 
 above the sea-level. The vein is included in mica slate 
 rocks, associated with gneiss. The strata run N. E. and 
 S. W., and dip to the W. N. W. 60, and the vein runs 
 nearly in the same direction. The sulphuret of molyb- 
 dena is associated with a peculiar blue compact felspar and 
 
62 WESTMORELAND. 
 
 quartz, in which occur enormous crystals of the phosphate 
 of lime, a mineral of considerable rarity, and highly prized 
 by mineralogists. 
 
 On the surface of the sulphuret of molybdena ; and in 
 cavities in the gangue occurs a bright yellow substance, 
 which is supposed to be a peculiar oxide, or a sub-sulphate 
 of molybdena. It has not yet been analyzed. 
 
 On the side of this hill a drift has been cut into the 
 rock, with the intention of striking the vein lower down, 
 in hopes of finding ores of copper or of tin, which 
 metals an English miner had led Mr. Lincoln to expect at 
 a lower level. The work was abandoned after excavating 
 a gallery in the rock to the distance of 33 feet, without 
 reaching the vein. 
 
 It is true that sulphuret of molybdena is commonly as- 
 sociated with tin and copper ores, but it does by no means 
 follow that wherever we find that mineral, we shall find 
 also the others. If, however, a few crystals of oxide of 
 tin had been found scattered in the molybdena vein, we 
 should have some reason to expect a larger supply in its 
 midst. 
 
 Various attempts have been made to render the molyb- 
 dena ore useful in the arts, and it was hoped that its fine 
 blue oxide might serve as a pigment or for calico printing, 
 but thus far no valuable result has been attained. 
 
 This locality will furnish a most abundant supply of 
 sulphuret of molybdena, and should be kept in remem- 
 brance, since the constant and rapid improvements in the 
 arts may eventually discover some method of rendering it 
 useful. At present it is destined to furnish an abundance 
 of fine specimens for the use of mineralogists and chem- 
 ists, many of whom will visit the locality. 
 
 A few rods north of this vein occurs a small deposit of 
 nodular bog manganese, the nodules being about the 
 size of walnuts. It occurs at the outlet of a small drain 
 
W ALP OLE. 63 
 
 from a little peat-bog, and was evidently deposited in its 
 present situation by water. 
 
 This ore will serve perfectly for the generation of chlorine 
 gas from muriatic acid for bleaching, but owing to the pres- 
 ence of apocrenate of iron in it, it does not give out pure ox- 
 ygen gas when heated to redness, for that vegetable acid be- 
 ing decomposed by heat and by the oxygen of the mangan- 
 ese, its carbon combining with the oxygen, carbonic acid is 
 also produced at the same time. The locality will furnish 
 a few tons of manganese, and since it will answer for gen- 
 erating chlorine, it will meet with a ready sale at the pa- 
 per-mills where manganese is used for bleaching. 
 
 Having, through the kind assistance of Mr. Lincoln, ob- 
 tained specimens of all the minerals which occur on his 
 estate, we proceeded on our section northwardly. 
 
 From Westmoreland to Walpole the, rocks are granite 
 and gneiss. A few beds and veins of milk quartz also oc- 
 cur. 
 
 WALFOLE. In this town we were aided by Mr. Frederic 
 Vose and Dr. Ebenezer Morse, who were appointed a com- 
 mittee for the purpose, and politely rendered such assist- 
 ance as was required. 
 
 The rocks in this town consist of mica slate, the strata 
 of which dip to the N. N. W. 15 or 20. Granite beds 
 are also observed included between the strata. 
 
 These rocks may be viewed near the village, where a 
 small and rapid brook has washed the soil from the surface 
 of the rocks. 
 
 It was supposed that limestone occurred on the hill near 
 the meeting-house, but we could not find any trace of such 
 a rock. South of Fall Mountain, near Bellows Falls, a 
 number of loose masses of plumbago were dug out of the 
 soil, immediately beneath the brow of the hill. They 
 appear to have been detached from the rock on which they 
 
64 
 
 WALPOLE. 
 
 rest, since the masses were angular, and not water-worn. 
 The rock composing the mountain is plumbaginous mica 
 slate, passing into argillaceous slate on one side, and grad- 
 uating into hard mica slate, containing fibrolite, on the 
 other. Near the house of Mr. Milliken the slate rocks con- 
 tain fine crystals of macle or hemitropic andalusite, a min- 
 eral somewhat rare. Three miles North from the Falls 
 may be seen the junction of the slate rocks with gneiss, 
 these rocks forming the northern extremity of Fall Mt. 
 At the north extremity of the hill the gneiss rocks occur, 
 dipping to the S. E. At the junction of the mica slate 
 with the gneiss, a union of the two rocks is formed. 
 There we notice a dark blue quartz rock, which is followed 
 by indurated argillaceous slate, which passes insensibly in- 
 to a micaceous clay slate, containing crystals of macle. 
 The strata are overlaid by gneiss, beneath which they dip 
 at an angle of 50. 
 
 i I 
 
 Section of the strata near Mr. Milliken's, Bellows Falls. 
 
 
 The rocks at Bellows Falls consist of gneiss and mica 
 slate, the strata of which dip to the S. E. These rocks 
 are filled with masses of fibrolite, which being almost in- 
 capable of decomposition, is left in relief on the surface of 
 
ALSTEAD. 
 
 65 
 
 the water-worn rocks. Fibrolite is harder than quartz, 
 and may be used for emery when it is pulverized and 
 washed in a proper manner. It is, however, difficult to 
 extract from the hard rocks in which it occurs at this place. 
 
 Near Saxton's River the rocks consist of a hard variety 
 of gneiss, in the crevices of which occurs a rare mineral, 
 composed of fluoric acid and alumina, called Wavellite. 
 It occurs in stellated or radiated masses, about 1-2 an inch 
 in diameter. In the neighborhood of Blake's paper-mills, 
 the rocks consist of mica slate,- the strata of which dip S. 
 E. 70. The same variety of rock containing fibrolite ex- 
 ists on Fall Mountain, and constitutes its principal sub- 
 strata. About three-quarters of a mile northwardly from 
 Fall Village, on the Rockingham road, occurs a junction 
 of the micaceous and argillaceous slate rocks. At that 
 place the strata run N. 14 E., S. 14 W., and dip to the 
 westward 70. 
 
 Bellow's Falls has long been favorably known to trav- 
 ellers, as a place of resort in the warm seasons, on ac- 
 count of the beautiful scenery and the refreshing coolness 
 of the atmosphere. In ancient times, it was one of the 
 favorite haunts of the aborigines, remains of whose rude 
 sculpture may still be seen on the rocks below the falls. 
 
 ALSTEAD. In this town granite, gneiss and mica slate 
 abound. The strata of the two last mentioned rocks run 
 N. E., S. W. arid dip to the north-west. In numerous 
 places may be seen large masses of mica slate completely 
 decomposed, and in the state of a micaceous soil. A bed of 
 impure, blue limestone is exposed by the cutting for a road, 
 but it is not sufficiently strong for commercial use. 
 
 Eastward of the Paper Mill Village, there occur beds of 
 Potter's clay, arid it is manufactured into bricks. 
 
 The most important locality in this town, is the mica 
 quarry, situated upon the estate of Mr. Goodhue, 31-2 
 miles S. E. from the New A 1 stead Post Office. 
 
66 ACWORTH. 
 
 The mica is one of the ingredfents of a very largely 
 crystallized granite, composed of white soda felspar, grey 
 quartz, and huge plates of transparent and colorless, or 
 reddish colored mica. The mica is extensively quarried 
 by Mr. James Bowers of Acworth, who devotes himself 
 almost exclusively to the business, and sends large quan- 
 tities of mica to market. There are two quarries opened 
 in this town. They are situated near each other, and are 
 both wrought by Mr. Bowers. The granite containing 
 the mica, is evidently a huge vein in mica slate rocks, 
 through which it has been erupted nearly in a line with 
 the direction of the strata. 
 
 ACWORTH. The village of Acworth stands upon very 
 elevated land, which is 1397 feet above the sea level. The 
 rocks which compose the mountains are principally mica 
 slate and granite, the latter rock constituting large veins 
 in the former. Hornblende slate and quartz rock also oc- 
 cur on and around William's Hill, an eminence situated S. 
 by W. from Acworth, M. H., on the south side of Cold 
 River. This locality has enjoyed great celebrity on ac- 
 count of the immense crystals of beryl which have been 
 obtained from it, and have been sold for cabinet specimens 
 in various parts of the world. Some of the crystals are 
 more than a foot in diameter and eighteen inches in length, 
 but they are like all gigantic crystals, defaced by striae 
 and cracks which injure their beauty. Notwithstanding 
 these imperfections, the huge dimensions of the crystals 
 has produced great surprise among Mineralogists and Ge- 
 ologists of Europe. One of these beryls, eight inches in 
 diameter, was shewn me in the Imperial Cabinet of Vien- 
 na, as a wonderful specimen, and was a very highly valu- 
 ed present to that superb collection. The Acworth be- 
 ryls when perfect have a fine-light blue green color and are 
 of that variety known by the name of aqua-marine. Frag- 
 ments may be separated from some of the large masses 
 
AC WORTH. 
 
 67 
 
 that would serve ; when cut and polished, for jewelry. 
 The large crystals generally are not sufficiently free from 
 foreign matters for this purpose. The locality from whence 
 these beryls were obtained may still yield a great number 
 of valuable specimens, but much labor is required in blast- 
 ing away the quartz rock which overlies them, before they 
 can be detached. They occur in a granite vein im- 
 mediately beneath a large vein of granular, white and rose 
 colored quartz. The quartz vein runs N. W. and S. E. 
 and forms the summit of the hill, and is no less than forty 
 yards wide, and is easily quarried. It is of the purest and 
 best kind, and is suitable for the manufacture of glass and 
 for sand paper. It will doubtless soon be wrought by the 
 N. H. Glass Manufacturing Company at Keene, since it is 
 situated only 20 miles from their works. At my request, 
 Mr. Elliot, superintendent of the N. H. Glass works, has 
 made a trial of this quartz, and has produced some fine 
 tubes for chemical use, almost equal to the celebrated Bo- 
 hemian glass. It withstands heat admirably, blows and 
 draws perfectly well. 
 
 Black tourmalines and largely crystalized white soda 
 felspar or Cleavlandite occur at this place, but the speci- 
 mens are not so good as those which are found at the mi- 
 ca quarries of Alstead. 
 
 Mr. James Bowers of Ac worth, has for several years de- 
 voted a part of his time to the exploration of the miner- 
 als of this town, and keeps a collection on hand for sup- 
 plying those who may desire to purchase specimens. 
 
 On the western side of William's hill occurs a very re- 
 markable bed of well characterized hornblende slate which 
 is cut through by a broken vein of compact felspar in a 
 remarkable manner, evincing many ruptures in the vein 
 subsequent to its injection. The strata are much contor- 
 ted near their junction with this vein. 
 
68 
 
 UN1TV. 
 
 In the village the strata of mica slate are observed near 
 the Tavern, where the strata dip to the W. S. W. and run 
 N. 10 W., S. 10 E. Several small veins of granite and 
 beds of quartz also occur in the rock, and contain masses 
 and crystals of iron pyrites. Further north the dip of the 
 strata is reversed, the inclination being to the E. N. E. 50. 
 Proceeding to Unity and Claremont, the road forms quite 
 a regular inclined plane, descending rapidly to the north- 
 ward. 
 
 UNITY possesses many interesting localities, some of 
 which have been explored. 
 
UNITY. 69 
 
 The granular quartz, which is found upon the estate of 
 Mr. J. M'Clure, has for a long time supplied the sand pa- 
 per works of Vermont with the ground and sifted mineral, 
 employed for the preparation of that useful article. The bed 
 from whence the quartz is obtained is included in granite, 
 and is conveniently situated near the mill where it is 
 ground and bolted. An abundant supply of the rock may 
 at any time be obtained. It is-more largely granular than 
 the quartz of Ac worth, but is easily ground to powder 
 in a common grist mill, furnished with granite mill stones. 
 About 30 or 40 tons of the bolted quartz is annually pre- 
 pared and is sold for $20 dollars per ton, to the sand paper 
 makers of Rockingham, Vt. The finest powder is used 
 for polishing metals, and is a good substitute for emery. 
 I shall have occasion to refer to this subject more fully 
 in the economical department of this Report, and there- 
 fore omit a more detailed account of the value of this sub- 
 stance for the present. Jft?& 
 
 Half a mile northwardly from Mr. M'Clure's house, 
 there is a strong Chalybeate spring, which has enjoyed 
 some celebrity in the cure of certain derangements of the 
 digestive organs. It is strongly charged with salts of iron, 
 and possesses tonic properties. 
 
 The soil around the spring is so highly charged with 
 sulphate of iron, that no plants are able to grow upon it 
 except a little moss in some places, which is soon black- 
 ened and destroyed when the solution of copperas in the 
 soil becomes concentrated by evaporation. 
 
 Copperas has been manufactured from this soil, simply 
 by the process of leaching and evaporation. In 1825, Mr. 
 Abner Currier's family manufactured 100 Ibs. of copperas 
 from this soil, in the manner above mentioned. It is how- 
 ever of little economical value, since copperas is now more 
 cheaply made on a large scale at Straffbrd, Vt. 
 
 A few limited deposits of bog iron ore of local forma- 
 
70 UNITY, 
 
 tion occur in this town, but none appeared of sufficient 
 magnitude to warrant mining operations. 
 
 On the estate of Mr. James Neal, we examined a large 
 vein of copper and iron pyrites, which has been explored 
 to some extent. 
 
 This vein is contained in gneiss, and runs nearly par- 
 allel with the strata, in a direction N. 10 E., S. 10 W. 
 and dips to the W. by N. 78. It extends along the top 
 of the hill for the distance of 1,550 feet, and there is cov- 
 ered in the valley by the soil, but it again appears on the 
 uplands beyond. From our observations, we can say, that 
 the whole extent of the vein is not less than 2,200 feet 
 in length, and its width at the opening which has been 
 made, is at 3 feet from the surface 1 foot and 8 inches, and 
 at 8 feet it is 3 feet wide. In some parts of the vein the 
 width is 3 feet 9 inches. From the above observations, 
 it will be perceived that the vein widens as it descends 
 and there is reason to believe that it may ultimately be 
 wrought for copper, and for the manufacture of sulphate 
 of iron. (See analysis of this ore.) 
 
 If the mine is ever wrought, it will be found easy to 
 effect drainage to the depth of 70 feet. It is situated 4 
 miles from Charlestown landing on the Connecticut River. 
 
 At this place we discovered a new mineral, to which I 
 have given the name Chlorophyllite. (See Report on the 
 analyses of minerals.) It occurs in the sienite rocks 
 which are found imbedded in the gneiss near the cop- 
 per mine. Crystals of magnetic iron ore in octahedral 
 forms occur disseminated in the green mica, also radiated 
 actynolite and garnets. Green mica also occurs associated 
 with the Chlorophyllite. 
 
 Near the northwestern corner of Unity, as I have been in- 
 formed, the argillaceous slate rocks occur, overlapping the 
 older primary strata. A quarry has been opened for the 
 purpose of obtaining tomb stones, but it has not been 
 much wrought. 
 
HANOVER. 71 
 
 Claremont is also intersected by the sectional profile 
 measured by Messrs. Whitney and Williams, who have 
 described the outlines of the Geology of that town. It 
 will, therefore, be unnecessary for me to do more than re- 
 fer to their description of the section from Portsmouth 
 through Concord to Claremont. 
 
 Proceeding northwardly our section traverses Cornish, 
 Plainfield, Lebanon and Hanover. 
 
 From Claremont to Meriden, the micaceous slate rocks 
 prevail and are occasionally colored by the presence of 
 plumbago. The strata run N. 20 E., S. 20 W. and dip 
 to the E. S. E. 20 Near Cornish Flat the mica slate be- 
 comes more silvery in its lusture and is not colored by for- 
 eign matter. In several places the rock splits well into 
 platforms, and may be quarried for flagging stone. Mr. 
 Hack Hills informs me that good tomb-stone slates are ex- 
 tensively quarried 1 1-2 miles S. E. from Cornish Flat. 
 The stone is said to be much better than that wrought at 
 Unity and Claremont. It is exported largely for sale, and 
 is even transported to Portland in Maine. 
 
 In Meriden hornblende slate and chlorite slate occur. 
 The latter rock extends through Lebanon 4 miles towards 
 Hanover, where it is interrupted by the granite rock. The 
 chlorite slate dips to the north westward. 
 
 Bog iron ore occurs in Lebanon, and has been examin- 
 ed by Mr. Abel Storrs, who not being at home, the local- 
 ity was not visited by our party, since we hoped at some 
 other time to have the assistance of that gentleman in ex- 
 ploring the locality. We saw some very good specimens 
 of the ore in the Cabinet at Dartmouth College, but it was 
 not known whether the locality would furnish a sufficient 
 supply for economical purposes. 
 
 HANOVER, has been pretty thoroughly explored by the 
 professors and students of Dartmouth College, so that lit- 
 tle remained for us to examine, save the measurement of 
 
72 LYME. 
 
 our sectional line through the town. The most interest- 
 ing rocks which occur, are the hornblende slates which 
 contain an infinite number of small but perfect crystals of 
 Almandine or precious garnet crystallized in their prima- 
 ry form, of the rhombic dodecahedron. The locality from 
 whence the best specimens are obtained, is directly in the 
 rear of the Medical College, where the hornblende slate 
 crops out on the crest of a moderate hill, the strata run- 
 ning N. 40 E., S. 40 W., and dipping to the north-west- 
 ward 40 degrees. By means of a single blast, it is easy 
 to obtain a large supply of very fine specimens. 
 
 In the northern part of this town plastic clay and clay 
 marl occur in regular strata, which are nearly horizontal. 
 On the estate of John Durkee, Esq., the marl is highly 
 calcareous, and will serve for fertilizing the soil. Speci- 
 mens of this marl were presented to me by Dr. C. B. Ham- 
 ilton, of Lyme. He informed me that attempts were made 
 to burn it for bricks, but the bricks were found to slake and 
 crack when exposed to the action of water. This circum- 
 stance led him to suppose that the clay contained lime, 
 which fact has been most fully confirmed by analysis. 
 
 {See the Chemical department of this Report.) 
 
 Blue limestone occurs also in the northern part of Han- 
 over, and is of sufficient purity for the manufacture of 
 lime for mortar, and for agricultural use. (See analysis.) 
 
 LYME. This town was partially examined while we 
 were engaged upon the section, but much still remains to 
 be done. Many highly useful substances occur, and will 
 need a more full survey. Rev. Mr. Buck, the principal of 
 the Academy, has already collected a great number of 
 highly interesting minerals in the vicinity, and Dr. Ham- 
 ilton has examined a deposit of clay marl which is quite 
 valuable for agricultural use. 
 
 Aided by this gentleman we visited the marl beds, and 
 ascertained the existence of marl throughout an extensive 
 
LYME. 73 
 
 district. It occurs in thick beds on the cliff and on the 
 margin of a brook, and between the East and West Villa- 
 ges on both sides of the road. The marl is evidently an 
 ancient alluvial or diluvial deposit, since it is far above 
 the level of any stream at present existing in this region, 
 It was formed by the decomposition and disintegration of 
 a blue limestone, fragments of which are still found im- 
 bedded in the marl. Where the marl bed is exposed to 
 the heat of the sun, the surface becomes indurated so that 
 it requires the use of a pick in digging it out of the bank. 
 
 The richness of the marl may be estimated coarsely by 
 pouring upon it some muriatic or nitric acid, and judging 
 by the degree of effervescence which takes place from dis- 
 engagement of the carbonic acid gas. An exact analysis of 
 it will be found in the chemical part of this Report. It is 
 evident that by use of this marl the farmers may highly 
 improve the sandy soils in the West Village and its vicin- 
 ity, and it is somewhat remarkable that attention has not 
 before been paid to the subject. Dr. Hamilton says that 
 limestone of good quality and marl also abound in the 
 North part of Lyme. He furnished me with specimens 
 which have been carefully analyzed in my Laboratory, as 
 will be seen reported in the tables of chemical analyses. 
 
 During our next campaign, we shall ascertain the extent 
 and economical value of those beds of limestone, and shall 
 examine several veins of metaliferous ores which occur in 
 the vicinity. Some masses of cyanite have been found in 
 the northwest part of Lyme, by Mr. Buck. Copper py- 
 rites has been found. in the S. E. part of the town. Black 
 tourmaline in distinct crystals occurs in the rocks in large 
 quantities. One small but beautiful specimen -of quartz, 
 containing rutile, has also been found in the soil. Iron 
 pyrites occurs on the estate of Mr. Holt, and formerly gave 
 rise to absurd expectations, it having been mistaken for an 
 ore of the precious metals. ' 
 
 10 
 
74 ORFORD. 
 
 The mica slate rocks which crop out in the East Vil- 
 lage, along the borders of the stream, are occasionally im- 
 pregnated with disseminated crystals of iron pyrites. It 
 also exhibits a gradual passage into plumbaginous clay 
 slate. The strata run N. E. and S. W., and dip to the 
 N. W. 52. Diluvial boulders of granite and of quartz rock 
 also abound on the surface. 
 
 Two small veins of copper pyrites are said to occur in 
 this town, to the eastward of the East Village, but our 
 time did not allow us then to visit them. 
 
 From Lyme to Orford the rocks are mica slate, with oc- 
 casional veins of granite. 
 
 ORFORD. In this town we were assisted in our explor- 
 ations by Dr. Hosford, who has made a collection of the 
 most interesting minerals of the neighborhood. Sunday 
 Mt., in the South part of the town, consists of granite 
 which is of good quality, and is quarried to some extent. 
 It is composed of white felspar and black mica, and con- 
 tains but little quartz. 
 
 Two miles North from the village occurs an immense 
 bed of compact talcose slate, which answers perfectly for 
 soapstone, arid is quarried to some extent, but may, by 
 proper management, be made to furnish an almost unlim- 
 ited quantity of that valuable material. The bed is in- 
 cluded in mica slate, and dips with the strata of that rock 
 to the N. 10, W. 35. 
 
 The mica slate may be seen cropping out at the summit 
 of the hill, and also at its base ; but the walls of the tal- 
 cose rock have not been fully explored. We may, how- 
 ever, safely estimate the thickness of the bed at 100 feet, 
 and it probably is even of greater dimensions. The pres- 
 ent mode of quarrying the rock is troublesome and slow. 
 The workmen who hire the privilege of obtaining the 
 rock, since they do not own the ledge, are unwilling to 
 expend a large sum in clearing the quarry so as to obtain 
 
PIERMONT. 75 
 
 a good head, and consequently have to work at a disadvan- 
 tage. A large amount could be profitably expended in 
 preparing the quarry so that the stone could be more ea- 
 sily obtained. 
 
 CJove brown tourmaline, which is a rare mineral, occurs 
 in the talcose slate in large crystals, some of which are 
 more than two inches in diameter and six inches in length. 
 They are rarely found with perfect terminations. Radia- 
 ted brown tourmaline is much more abundant, and is ea- 
 sily obtained at the quarry. 
 
 The composition of this mineral will be stated in the 
 chemical department of this Report. 
 
 Granular limestone also occurs in Orford, but does not 
 appear on our line of section. Specimens were obtained 
 for analysis, and will be reported in another department of 
 the present essay. 
 
 PIERMONT. Leaving Orford and proceeding northwardly, 
 we next pass through Piermont, the rocks on the route be- 
 ing uniformly mica slate strata, with occasional protruded 
 masses of granite, and veins of quartz, and numerous 
 dykes of greenstone trap rock. 
 
 In this town occurs an important bed of micaceous 
 specular iron ore, which was examined with care. This 
 bed occurs on an eminence known as Crosses' Ore Hill, 
 which is 4 1-2 miles S. E. from Haverhill Corner. The 
 iron ore is contained in stratified quartz rock, and follows 
 the course and dip of the strata, the direction being N. 
 15 E., S. 15 W., and the inclination W. by N. 26 to 30. 
 We traced it along the crest of the hill for the distance of 
 half a mile. The beds are very numerous, and are con- 
 tiguous to each other. 
 
 The beds of iron ore vary in thickness from a few inch- 
 es to three or four feet. At the southern extremity of the 
 hill, the ore presents itself in larger beds, the outcropping 
 
76 PIEKMONT. 
 
 ends and edges being fully exposed to view. At this ex- 
 tremity of the bed it is best to commence the work of 
 mining, if the ore is to be wrought, since it may be more 
 readily transported to the road below and from thence to 
 a furnace. The slope of the hill is at an angle of from 22 
 to 25 degrees to the road, and is quite regular, so that a 
 slide may be constructed for transportation of the ore to 
 the road. 
 
 The highest crest of the hill is about 300 feet above 
 the immediate base, and at the south extremety of the bed, 
 the elevation is from 150 to 200 feet above the road be- 
 low. There appears to be a sufficiency of iron ore at this 
 locality to warrant the erection of a blast furnace. Sev- 
 eral loads of the ore have already been converted into good 
 cast and bar iron at Mr. Huxan Paddock's furnace in St. 
 Johnsbury, Yt. Numerous specimens of the ore have 
 been analyzed in my laboratory during the past winter, as 
 will be seen in the chemical department of this Report. 
 
 Owing to the presence of a small proportion of oxide of 
 titanium in this ore, it is more difficult to reduce than some 
 other varieties, but this is not a serious obstacle, consider- 
 ing the minute proportion of titanium which the ore con- 
 tains. It is always advisable to mix such heavy ores with 
 bog iron ore, if it can be obtained, since it serves to facil- 
 tate the reduction of the specular iron ore, and lightens the 
 charge in the furnace. A limited deposit of compact and 
 dry bog iron was found near the base of the hill, but not 
 in sufficient quantity to render it available. 
 
 Another small deposite exists on a branch of the Olive- 
 rian stream, but the quantity is said to be insufficient for 
 iron works. 
 
 In the bed of specular iron ore occur occasional mass- 
 es and veins of sulphate of barytes, a mineral com- 
 monly used for the adulteration of white lead. 
 
 On the hill opposite the specular iron ore, on the land 
 
HAVERHILL. 77 
 
 of Mr. Thomas Cross, there are several small veins of 
 magnetic iron ore, varying in width from 1 to 4 inches, 
 which alone would not be considered of any economical 
 value, but these small veins will furnish a valuable con- 
 tribution to a blast furnace, where the specular iron ores 
 may be smelted. 
 
 Green, white and brown micas are found associated with 
 this ore. 
 
 A few fine crystals of phosphate of lime of the variety 
 called apatite, occur imbedded in masses of limestone, 
 which are found loose at the base of the hill. 
 
 Attempts have recently been made to discover coal in 
 the plumbaginous mica slate of this town, but as might 
 have been anticipated, without success, since the rocks do 
 not belong to the coal formation. On our route from Pier- 
 mont to Haverhill Corner, we passed over nine dykes of 
 greenstone trap rock, which have been erupted through the 
 mica slate rocks. Some of these dykes consist of the por- 
 phyritic trap which usually is the most ancient variety. 
 
 HAVERHILL. During our sojourn in this town, His Ex- 
 cellency Governor Page kindly devoted his time and per- 
 sonal attention to the survey, and aided us in the work. 
 
 With him we visited several localities before described, 
 and those which will next occupy our attention. 
 
 The plain at Haverhill Corner is covered mostly with an- 
 cient alluvial soil, which conceals the rocks, but the strata 
 may be examined on the hills and mountains around 
 where their outcropping edges are fully exposed. Mica 
 slate is the predominating rock, and it is occasionally in- 
 terrupted by veins and beds of granite and quartz rock. 
 Extensive beds of excellent limestone are also included 
 in the mica slate. Many curious and useful simple min- 
 erals were also found in veins traversing that rock. 
 
 Granite of good quality exists abundantly on Catamount 
 
78 HAVERHILL. 
 
 Hill, situate south westward from the village. The 
 hill is mostly composed of tabular sheets of granite, 
 which affords great facilities to the quarryman. The 
 sheets of granite have no stratified structure, but are 
 pseudo-strata. They slope to the W. N. W. 20, arid 
 large platforms are readily split off and taken down the 
 sloping hill. This stone is extensively quarried, and is used 
 in Haverhill for fence posts and for underpinning. Large 
 quantities are also sent over into Vermont for sale, and it 
 is even transported to markets 20 miles distant. 
 
 Among the interesting minerals which have been found 
 in Haverhill, we may mention small veins of copper and 
 iron pyrites, sulphurets of lead and of zinc, native arsen- 
 ic, arsenical pyrites, large crystals of garnet in chlorite, 
 some of which are 1 1-2 inch in diameter, and are crys- 
 tallized in the primary form, Talcose rock or soapstone 
 and granular white limestone of excellent quality. 
 
 The extent and value of these minerals were care- 
 fully ascertained, and specimens of them were collect- 
 ed for the State cabinet and for chemical analysis. Sev- 
 eral of those first mentioned were discovered by Mr. 
 Roswell Wilmott, who has a decided taste for miner- 
 ological researches, and has been quite successful in learn- 
 ing the characteristics of such specimens as he could ob- 
 tain in his vicinity. The copper pyrites occurs in a vein 
 of white quartz traversing mica and hornblende slate stra- 
 ta, on the estate of Mr. Francis Kimball, between the 
 Great Ammonusuck and the Wild Ammonusuck Rivers. 
 
 The vein is from 1 to 4 inches wide, and is quite irreg- 
 ular ; the copper ore occurring in bunches or nests in the 
 quartz. Galena or sulphuret of lead, and blende or sul- 
 phuret of zinc are also found in the same situation. The 
 direction of the vein is N. 10 W., S. 10 E. It inter- 
 sects the strata at an angle of 70, the mica slate strata 
 running N. and. S., sloping to the westward. 
 
HAVERHILL. 79 
 
 Passing over the hill to the west, we next came to a 
 dark blue variety of mica slate, which is stained by 
 plumbago and iron pyrites. This rock includes beds of 
 native arsenic, which is so free that it is volatilized by the 
 heat of the sun, giving a strong garlicky odor to the at- 
 mosphere on a hot day. When struck by the hammer the 
 arsenical odor is very strongly perceived. The arsenic is 
 in thin layers, forming beds with the slate 3 or 4 inches 
 in thickness. It is probable that ores of cobalt will be 
 found associated with this mineral. Mr. Wilmot thinks 
 that he found traces of it in one of his specimens. 
 
 White and magnetic iron pyrites also are found at this 
 place. In one of the dykes of trap rock on the hill, there 
 is so much magnetic pyrites scattered in fine particles in 
 the rock as to give it a decided polarity, so that approach- 
 ing a compass to one point on the rock the needle points 
 to it, and is reversed when the compass is carried a few 
 inches beyond it. Yet there is nothing more to be seen 
 at that point in the rock than elsewhere in the ledge. It 
 is merely a magnetic pole of the mass. 
 
 The mica slate rocks of Vermont and New-Hampshire 
 frequently include valuable beds of limestone^ which is 
 generally crystalline in its character, and exhibits no re- 
 mains of fossils. This variety of limestone is supposed 
 by many distinguished Geologists to have been originally 
 an aqueous deposit of marine shells and corals, which subse- 
 quently were melted into crystalline carbonate of lime by 
 heat, while the pressure of superincumbent rocks and of 
 the ocean, prevented the escape of the carbonic acid gas. 
 By artificial experiments, Sir James Hall long ago dem- 
 onstrated the probability of such a metamorphosis, and 
 since then Von Buch, Elie De Beaumont, Dufrenoy and 
 others, have by observation, proved that many lime- 
 stones, originally consisting of shells, have been convert- 
 
80 HAVERHILL. 
 
 ed into granular marble and crystallized limestone, by the 
 agency of erupted rocks. 
 
 I have seen but one locality near the upper waters of 
 the Connecticut, where any traces of organic forms could 
 be discovered in the limestone, and in that instance, if re- 
 mains of corallines originally existed, they have been so 
 altered that no trace of organic structure remains. By 
 means of extended researches on the Vermont side of the 
 Connecticut river, we may perhaps be able hereafter to 
 satisfactorily account for the origin of the limestone in 
 question. 
 
 From observations at other localities, I am disposed 
 to consider all those limestones which were formerly cal- 
 led primary as metamorphic rocks, produced in the man- 
 ner before stated. It is also an interesting fact, that the 
 limestones in the mica slate in the region about to be de- 
 scribed, are free from magnesia, while those beds in other 
 portions of the country, which are included in talcose slate 
 and hornblende rock, or which occur in the vicinity of ser 
 pentine rocks, are generally magnesian, especially where 
 in contact with those magnesian rocks. 
 
 Our present section passes over an important bed of 
 limestone, which occurs about six miles north-east- 
 ward from Haverhill Corner, on the west side of Black 
 Mountain, and to the north-west of the Sugar Loaf, near 
 the foot of which it was first discovered, forming the ba- 
 sin of a small spring. This spring had excavated a deep 
 well in the rock, so that a pole could be thrust down to 
 the depth of twenty feet. Some person visiting this spring 
 as a curious natural well, suggested that the white rock 
 might be limestone, and upon trial this proved to be the 
 case. A portion of the rock was quarried out and burnt 
 into lime, but no attempt was made to ascertain the extent 
 and value of the bed. The first attempts made to burn 
 the rock into lime were exceedingly rude and imperfect, 
 
HAVERHILL. 81 
 
 so that the locality did not acquire a favorable reputation. 
 I have since ascertained that the limestone forms regular 
 beds of great dimensions and that it will make excellent 
 lime. The first opening was made adjacent to the spring 
 where the limestone is of a beautiful white colour and 
 is highly crystalline. Strata marks are indicated by 
 light brown streaks containing mica. These streaks resist 
 the action of the weather, and stand out in relief where the 
 limestone is worn away. The wall rock of the bed is mica 
 slate, but its boundaries have not yet been fully disclosed. 
 
 The second opening, a few rods distant, exhibits a reg- 
 ular bed of limestone, shaded slightly with blue, like that 
 of Thomaston in Maine. It is included in mica slate, the 
 strata of which run N. 57 E., S. 57 W., and dip N. W. 
 60 degrees. The limestone measured at right angles to 
 its direction is 23 feet 4 inches wide. 
 
 The third opening was made in a pasture, and discloses 
 the other extremity of the bed first described. The 
 whole width of this limestone is 400 feet, and its pres- 
 ent observed length is about 800 feet, but it is evident 
 that it runs with the strata to a much greater distance 
 and will probably be found to continue south-westward, 
 forming a bed several miles in length. If the map of the 
 State is correct, it should, from its course, run very near 
 the north part of the village at Haverhill Comer. At 
 present, the superficial soil prevents our ascertaining 
 whether this is the case. 
 
 Mr. W. Gannett has purchased the limestone beds above 
 described, and has secured a most valuable tract of wood- 
 land for the supply of fuel. New and improved kilns will 
 be erected, and lime will be furnished in abundance, on 
 very reasonable terms. 
 
 This locality is of inestimable value to the. State, saving 
 a vast outlay for foreign lime, while it is evident from the 
 
 analysis of the rock, that Haverhill lime will prove to be 
 
 t 
 
 11 
 
82 BATH. 
 
 of a superior quality. (See chemical analysis of this 
 limestone. ) 
 
 BATH. Prom Haverhill Corner to Bath, we observed 
 the mica slate rocks in regular strata, which dip to the 
 south-eastward, and run north-east and south-west. 
 
 Two dykes of greenstone trap intersect the strata and 
 alter the texture of the rock. In one place we observed 
 the mica slate possessing strong magnetism with polarity, 
 so as to reverse the compass needle. This was probably 
 owing to the presence of minute grains of magnetic py- 
 rites in the rock. In Bath, near the bridge, occurs a hard 
 flinty slate passing into mica slate. It is evidently an al- 
 tered rock. Several specimens of Galena or sulphuret of 
 lead were presented to me for examination. It forms a 
 small vein with quartz, and occurs on the town farm, but 
 is not supposed to be of sufficient magnitude to prove val- 
 uable. On cupelling a fragment of this galena, it was 
 found to contain a small proportion of silver, but it would 
 not be worth extracting, unless very large quantities of the 
 ore could be obtained. Pyritiferous slate also occurs, but 
 it does not appear to be sufficiently rich for the economi- 
 cal manufacture of alum. 
 
 The slate containing this sulphuret of iron, has been 
 mistaken for the shale of the coal formation, and attempts 
 were formerly made to discover coal in it, but of course 
 unsuccessfully. 
 
 Brick clay is abundant in Bath, and extensive yards ex- 
 ist for the manufacture of bricks. 
 
 I was informed that some of the clay beds would not 
 make brick of good quality, and on examirig them, ascer- 
 tained that they contained a small proportion of carbonate 
 of lime, but not sufficient to entitle the clay to rank as a 
 calcareous marl. The calciferous clay occurs in thin 
 seams, and can be distinguished readily by pouring a lit- 
 
NORTHERN SECTION. b6 
 
 tie muriatic acid upon the clay, when effervescence will 
 take place, owing to the decomposition of the carbonate 
 of lime by the acid andthe disengagement of its carbonic 
 acid gas. 
 
 I was informed of the existence of some small veins of 
 iron and lead ores in Landaff, but was unable at that time 
 to visit them. Specimens were obtained and have been 
 analysed in my laboratory. (See reports of analyses of 
 minerals,) 
 
 The remainder of this section was explored by nay as- 
 sistants, who present the following Report : 
 
 Geology and Topography of the Northern corner of the 
 State, by Messrs. Whitney and Williams. 
 
 The principal object in our short excursion to the Indian 
 Stream settlement, and the country lying near the Magal- 
 loway, was to procure the necessary Geological informa- 
 tion for the map to be published in the final report, and al- 
 so to obtain what topographical information we could with 
 regard to the heights of the mountains, courses of the ri- 
 vers, and nature of the soil, since but little has been done 
 with any degree of accuracy in that far-removed section 
 of the State. 
 
 Besides the usual difficulties attendant on such investi- 
 gations in the woods, we were obliged to contend with a 
 severe storm of rain and snow, which for twenty-two days 
 continued to impede our progress. 
 
 The rocks of the section extending from Haverhill 
 North, are almost entirely mica slate, often much contorted 
 and filled with quartz veins, with occasional veins of in- 
 jected granite, and it is not till we arrive at Stewartstown 
 that we find the first signs of the clay slate, in numerous 
 boulders scattered over the tops of the high hills in that vi- 
 
84 NOKTHERN SECTION. 
 
 cinity. The character of the soil then undergoes a mark- 
 ed change, becoming more retentive, and is peculiarly 
 adapted to the culture of wheat, as we were assured by 
 the intelligent farmers in that vicinity. 
 
 The surface of the vicinity of Stewartstown is compo- 
 sed almost entirely of diluvial detritus, brought from the 
 North, which is piled up in hills, some of them of consid- 
 erable elevation. The materials here accumulated have 
 evidently been brought in a finely divided state from the 
 clay slate and limestone beds which extend across the ex- 
 treme North of the State and the adjacent regions of Can- 
 ada, since no such rock exists in place for a great distance 
 to the South. 
 
 South Hill, in Stewartstown, is, from our observations, 
 about 2000 feet above the sea-level. 
 
 The road from Stewartstown to the Indian Stream set- 
 tlement, at the outlet of Connecticut Lake, is almost impas- 
 sable for wagons. This village, which is the most northerly 
 inhabited place in New Hampshire, may consist of a do- 
 zen houses. The whole Indian Stream settlement, so call- 
 ed, comprises 315 persons, according to the last census. 
 The falls of the Connecticut, at the outlet of the lake, 
 furnish excellent water power, on which a saw-mill is al- 
 ready built. The shores of this lake and the country ad- 
 joining are gently undulating. Camel's Rump, rising in 
 the N. E., is the only high mountain seen from this point. 
 Connecticut Lake is about 1624 feet above the level of 
 the sea. 
 
 The descent from the 2d Lake, as it is commonly called, 
 to the first or largest Connecticut Lake, is rapid. The 
 course of the river, which is here hardly more than a 
 small brook, is among large boulders of granite and clay 
 slate, but no where are the rocks to be seen in place. 
 
 After crossing the second Lake, we continued our march 
 eastward over the range of hills which separate the waters 
 
NORTHERN SECTION. 85 
 
 flowing into the Magalloway from those which empty into 
 the Connecticut. The highest point observed by us was 
 about 2130 feet above the sea-level. 
 
 From the 2d Lake to the State-line we suppose to be 
 about 5 1-2 miles. After meeting with the State-line, we 
 continued to follow it, till, at a distance of about 5 miles 
 from our camp, we arrived at the base of Camel's Rump 
 Mt. Here we lost all traces of the line, which is very in- 
 distinctly spotted, and evidently has not been touched for 
 many years. After spending some time in searching 
 for the point where the line must have crossed the moun- 
 tain, we gave it up and ascended to the summit, where we 
 pitched our tent. Here we remained for two days during 
 one of the violent storms so common in this elevated re- 
 gion, which borders on the high table-land of Canada. 
 The last day being clear, and the barometer having risen 
 apparently to its usual height, we have calculated from 
 the observations the approximate height of the mountain 
 at 3615 feet above the sea-level. This, it will be seen, is 
 one of the highest mountains in the State next to the 
 White Mountain range. Its geological character is pecu- 
 liar. The specimens which we obtained from various 
 parts of the mountain from the rock in place, consisted of 
 amorphous masses of hornstone, of various hues of color, 
 from a light apple green to almost black. The mountain 
 is covered with a low and tangled undergrowth, with stun- 
 ted fir-balsams and spruce. We regret that, owing to 
 foul weather and the exhausted state of our stock of pro- 
 visions, our observations were not sufficiently extensive to 
 determine whether this singular rock was erupted from be- 
 low in a state of fusion, or was altered from clay slate, or 
 whether its peculiar character is owing to large masses of 
 underlying trap-rock. 
 
 It is not probable that this mountain was ever before 
 ascended by white men. for, though we searched diligent- 
 
86 NORTHERN SECTION. 
 
 ly, we were unable to find any marks of former visitants, 
 such as spotted trees or bushed paths. But although the as- 
 cent was difficult, we were amply repaid by the magnificent 
 extent of the view which was displayed before us as the 
 veil of clouds gradually rolled away before the wind. In 
 the North, a series of high hills stretching beyond each 
 other for five or ten miles, which divide the waters flow- 
 ing into the St. Lawrence from those of the Magalloway 
 and Connecticut, beyond which, as far as the eye could 
 reach, lay the extended table-lands of Canada, unbroken 
 by any abrupt -elevation. To the East, the lofty granite 
 ranges of Maine, Mt. Bigelow and Mt. Abraham, Farther 
 South, the numerous large lakes near Umbagog and the 
 Diamond Hills, while in the farthest distance were seen 
 the lofty peaks of the White Mountains, and to the West 
 lay the Lakes and tributary streams of the Connecticut, 
 and the rolling ranges of the Green Mountains. 
 
 As our stock of provisions was entirely exhausted, we 
 were obliged to descend the mountain and return to our 
 camp, without visiting the monument which marks the 
 boundary between Maine, New Hampshire, and Canada, 
 intending to return after obtaining a further supply of pro- 
 visions, in order to explore the Magalloway to its sources. 
 
 In this intention we were disappointed, by continued 
 and severe storms, and the extremely low water in the 
 river, which rendered it impossible for our canoe to as- 
 cend. 
 
 The width of the Magalloway at the most northerly 
 point where we saw it, which could not have been more 
 than four or five miles from the monument, as laid down 
 on the map of the State by Carrigain, seemed to confirm 
 the opinion of Dr. Stephenson, who in his description of this 
 section, in Dr. Jackson's Third Annual Report on the 
 Geology of Maine, declares that the boundary line is sev- 
 eral miles too far South ; or, in other words, that the water- 
 
NORTHERN SECTION. 97 
 
 shed lines between the sources of the Magalloway and 
 the Chaudier, have not been ascertained with sufficient ac- 
 curacy. 
 
 The examination of the country adjacent to the river 
 presented little of interest to the geologist. The banks 
 of the river consist mostly of an alluvial deposit, raised 
 only a few feet from its level, and stretching back several 
 miles on either side. Rarely are the rocks seen in place. 
 The shores of Parmachene Lake are lined with rounded peb- 
 bles of granite, jasper, and hornstone, except at the south- 
 ern point, where the blocks of granite are very large and 
 angular, and piled together in the greatest confusion. Tal- 
 cose slate occurs in place on the river. 
 
 At the point where the river enters within the limits of 
 New Hampshire, the rocks are uniformly granite, which 
 extend from near Capt. Wilson's, in Township No. 5, 
 2d range in Maine, to the North of Clear stream, where we 
 left our canoe, in order to cross on foot and return to Cole- 
 brook, there being a tolerable road from Capt. Bragg's, in 
 Errol, through the Dixville Notch to Colebrook. 
 
 This Notch may be regarded as one of the most remar- 
 kable exhibitions of natural scenery in the State, perhaps 
 even surpassing the famous Notch of the White Mountains 
 in picturesque grandeur. 
 
 A natural defile through the high mountains which ex- 
 tend in a general North and South direction through the 
 town of Dixville, affords admirable facilities for the con- 
 struction of a new road to Portland, which may be- 
 come of importance to this part of the country. 
 
 The angular and precipitous appearance of the mica 
 slate rocks, rising hundreds of feet almost perpendicularly 
 on either side, is strikingly different from the rounded and 
 water- worn appearance of most of the primitive rocks 
 throughout the northern part of the United States, and 
 seems to come nearer to the scenery of the Alps than any 
 
88 SECTION FROM CONCORD TO WAKEFIELD. 
 
 thing else in New England. Sketches of the scenery 
 were preserved, and will be presented with the final Report. 
 It is evident that so interesting a spot as this must, when 
 known, draw thither a portion, at least, of the numerous 
 visitants to the picturesque scenery of the State. 
 
 Although it rained severely when we arrived at Cole- 
 brook, which we regarded as the continuation of the storm 
 by which we had been so long followed, we were surpri- 
 sed to learn that nearly the whole of the month had been 
 clear and pleasant throughout the whole of this part of 
 the State. 
 
 In conclusion, we would remark that the geological and 
 topographical information which we obtained will appear 
 on the map to be appended to the final Report of the State 
 Geologist. Specimens of the principal rocks also have 
 been deposited in the State Cabinet. 
 
 Section from Concord to Wakefieldj by Messrs. Whitney 
 and Williams. 
 
 The section from Concord to Wakefield is one of uni- 
 form geological character, and possesses little interest. 
 
 Commencing at the alluvion of the river Merrirnack, 
 and rising by a sharp ascent to the level of the sandy dilu- 
 vion, which extends for miles on each side of the river, the 
 underlaying rock, granite, is seen only once in place dur- 
 ing the first seven miles. About 1-2 mile from the village 
 of Loudon, granite occurs in situ, and continues to the 
 eastern line of the State. Near Loudon, and for several 
 miles beyond, it is crossed by occasional beds of mica 
 slate, having a general N. E. and S. W. direction, and 
 dipping to the S. E. 
 
 The Granite rocks in this 'vicinity are found, when 
 freshly uncovered, to be covered with the marks of dillu- 
 vial agency, and, as would be expected in a section of the 
 
SECTION FROM WAKEFIELD TO HAVERHILL. 89 
 
 country where such immense masses of diluvial detritus 
 are collected, they are often deep and very distinct. Their 
 direction near the village of London, varied from 12 to 
 25 west of north. Near the academy in Gilmanton, they 
 run N. 27 W. Gilmanton is covered by a series of high 
 diluvial hills, evidently the detritus of granite rocks 
 brought from the northward. 
 
 The soil in many parts of the town is very fertile, and 
 has been brought to a high state of cultivation, and no 
 part of the State presents a more pleasing and picturesque 
 appearance to the eye of the agriculturist. The simple 
 minerals and ores contained in the granite of this region 
 are few in number and destitute of interest. Quartz crys- 
 tals of considerable size are said to be found near Shell- 
 camp Pond. A considerable quantity of bog iron ore of 
 good quality was formerly obtained from Lougee Pond, in 
 the S. E. corner of of the town Gilmanton. It was taken 
 from the bed of the lake by means of long tongs, and car- 
 ried to the iron works village to be smelted. The quantity 
 of ore was evidently inadequate to supply a furnace for any 
 length of time. 
 
 From Gilmanton through the remaining part of this sec- 
 tional line, the rocks are uniformly granite, covered, as 
 usual, with huge boulders of granite and mica slate. 
 
 Great Moose Mountain, which forms the dividing line 
 between Brookfield and Middleton, consists entirely of 
 granite, and is elevated 1404 feet above the sea. 
 
 Section from Wakefield to Haverhill, and examination of 
 
 the country adjacent to Lake Winnipiseogee, by 
 
 Messrs. Whitney and Williams. 
 
 From Wakefield to Moultonborough the underlying 
 rock is granite, covered with bowlders of granite and 
 masses of diluvial granitic sand. Some of the bowlders 
 
 11* 
 
90 SECTION FROM WAKEFIELD TO HAVERHILL. 
 
 are of enormous size. Near the house of Mr. Ambrose, 
 in Ossipee, is a collection of loose masses of granite, one 
 of which measured forty-three feet in length, seventeen 
 feet high, and twenty-one feet wide. A ledge of horn- 
 blende rock of limited extent crosses the road near the 
 village of Wakefield. 
 
 In Moultonborough, the character of the rocks begin to 
 change. Red Hill, which rises about 2,000 feet above 
 the level of the sea, is composed of a beautiful sienite, in 
 which the felspar is of an ash-gray color, when freshly ex- 
 posed. Near the summit of the mountain, where the ledg- 
 es of rock are exposed to the action of the air, it is of a 
 reddish hue. The mountain is crossed at about one-third 
 of its height by a large dyke of porphyritic trap, whose 
 general direction is about N. 30 W. Being covered with 
 soil, it is impossible to trace its limits. The hornblende 
 of the sienite is in some instances well crystallized, so as 
 to afford very good cabinet specimens. Near the house of 
 Mr. Cook, about half way from the base to the summit, 
 occurs a deposit of bog iron ore. It is only a few inches 
 thick and of limited extent. From it a crow-bar has been 
 manufactured. Near this spot small quantities of iron py- 
 rites have been found, also black tourmaline, which has 
 been mistaken for coal. 
 
 This mountain is covered with soil and is wooded nearly 
 to the summit. It owes its name to the circumstance of 
 the leaves Uva Ursa with which it is covered, chang- 
 ing to a brilliant red in the autumn. 
 
 Great numbers of visitors ascend this mountain, attrac- 
 ted by the unrivalled beauty of the scenery of the coun- 
 try bordering on Lakes Winnipissiogee and Squam. On 
 a clear day, the view from its summit is of great extent. 
 The lofty peaks of Kearsarge, Sandwich, Whiteface, 
 Conway, Pigwacket and Ossipee mountains, seem to en- 
 close, in an amphitheatre, the lakes with their numerous 
 
SECTION FROM WAKEFIELD TO HAVERHILL. 91 
 
 picturesque islands, covered with the dark foliage of the 
 spruce and pine, forming the most beautiful mountain view 
 which this country affords. 
 
 The shores of Lake Winnipissiogee are covered with 
 angular fragments of granite and granitic sand. . A beau- 
 tiful amethyst sand is found abundantly on the shores of 
 Long Island. The number of islands in this lake is very 
 great, and several of them have become quite well known 
 for the large crops which skilful cultivation has produced 
 upon them. These will be noticed in the agricultural part 
 of the Report. Rattle Snake Island is elevated from 400 
 to 500 feet above the lake, and presents from its summit a 
 fine view of the surrounding islands. Their geological 
 character is quite uniform, being composed of angular frag- 
 ments of granite piled on ledges of the same rock, which 
 are often cut through by veins of injected trap and granite. 
 
 Ossipee Mountain, in Ossipee, about 3 or 4 miles from the 
 eastern shore of the Lake, is composed of several distinct 
 peaks. The most lofty, which is elevated 2361 feet above 
 the sea-level, is well wooded, and covered with larch, 
 spruce and birch to the summit. The rock is gneiss, cov- 
 ered with numerous fragments of trap brought from the 
 most northern peak, which is an isolated bare precipitous 
 range of bluish greenstone trap. This rock has been mis- 
 taken for iron ore and for limestone, neither of which min- 
 erals occur there. Near the foot of the mountain is a 
 beautiful little cascade, which attracts numerous visitors to 
 the mountain ; also, a spring slightly impregnated with 
 sulphydrie acid gas, which has attained some celebrity 
 among the inhabitants as a remedy for cutaneous dis- 
 eases. 
 
 The greenstone trap peak of Ossipee seems to be con- 
 nected with a series of dykes of greater or less extent, oc- 
 curring in numerous places in the adjacent country. A series 
 of them cross the road from Centre Harbor to Tamworth, 
 
92 SECTION FROM WAKEFIELD TO ttAVERHILL, 
 
 nearly on a line between Ossipee and Red Mountains. 
 They are very numerous, and measure from one to three 
 or four feet in thickness. Their general direction is N. 
 60 or 70 W. Trap dykes are also very numerous on 
 the margin of Squam Lake, varying from one inch to ten 
 feet in width, running nearly E. and W. About six miles 
 N. from Centre Harbor occurs a dyke cutting through gran- 
 ite and is about 10 ft. in width. It is porphyritic with flesh- 
 colored crystals of felspar. These dykes are very distinct- 
 ly marked from the surface of the granite including them. 
 They have been worn and polished by the action of the dilu- 
 vial currents, so that a level and smooth surface compri- 
 sing many thousand square feet lies entirely bare of soil. 
 
 Gunstock Mountain, on the south-western shore of this 
 Lake, is made up of three distinct peaks. The most north- 
 erly is the highest, being about 1969 feet above the lake, 
 and 2447 feet above the sea. The westerly peak, accord- 
 ing to Dr. Jackson's observations, is 1561 feet above the 
 lake, and 2039 ft. above the sea. On its declivity occurs a 
 vein of magnetic oxide of iron, which is included in sienite 
 rock, and is irregular in its dimensions, varying from a few 
 inches to two feet in width. The ore is remarkably mag- 
 netic, with strong polarity, especially near the surface, the 
 interior not being so strongly polarized. Large quan- 
 tities of this ore are now lying loose upon the ground, 
 and will furnith an abundance of cabinet specimens ; there 
 is not an adequate supply for a furnace. 
 
 The most southerly peak affords a magnificent view of 
 Lake Winnipissiogee and its islands, with the surrounding 
 mountains. Large dykes of trap occur on this mountain. 
 It was supposed that limestone had been found there, but 
 examination has not confirmed the opinion. 
 
 From Meredith to Centre Harbor, the rock in place is 
 porphyritic granite, often traversed by beds and veins of 
 fine grained, dark colored granite and trap. Some speci- 
 
FROM HAVERHILL TO THE WHITE MOUNTAINS. 93 
 
 mens of the porphyritic granite, in which the crystals of 
 felspar are flesh colored, are very beautiful. 
 
 Boulders of this rock are scatterad in great numbers to 
 the South of their native bed. They have been carried 
 from eight to ten miles by the action of the diluvial cur- 
 rents. From Centre Harbor to Plymouth, the rocks in 
 place are porphyritic granite, traversed by occasional lim- 
 ited beds of mica slate. In Plymouth mica slate occurs, 
 and continues to near the line of Wentworth, where the 
 granite replaces it. Near Rumney line, at the base of 
 Carr's Mountain, the mica slate runs N. 35 E., and dips 
 nearly vertical. This rock splits very smoothly, and might 
 be quarried to any extent. 
 
 Carr's Mountain, which is one of the most lofty eleva- 
 tions in this part of the State, being about 3381 feet above 
 the sea-level, is composed of granite overlying mica slate. 
 From the vertical dip of this rock at its base, it would 
 seem highly probable that the granite had been erupted 
 through it, forming a cap upon its summit. 
 
 Examination of the Country from Haver hill to the White 
 Mountains. 
 
 Having completed the measurement of our great longi- 
 tudinal section, which will be represented hereafter by a 
 colored engraving, we made a rapid reconnoisance of the 
 country from Haverhill to the White Mountains, by the 
 way of Lisbon and Franconia, examining particularly the 
 limestones and iron ores which are found in the last men- 
 tioned towns. From Bath to Franconia the mica slate 
 rocks predominate, arid in Lisbon these rocks contain an 
 infinity of beautifully crystallized staurotides and garnets, 
 which on the shores of Mink Pond have been detached 
 from the rock by decomposition, so as to form the princi- 
 
94 
 
 FRANCONIA. 
 
 pal pebbles on its beach. This locality will prove inter- 
 esting to mineralogists, who can readily obtain as many 
 separate crystals of staurotide as they desire, by visiting 
 the shores of the pond. 
 
 The limestones of Lisbon are contained between walls 
 of mica slate, and quarries have long been wrought in sev- 
 eral places for the supply of lime. The principal quarries 
 are owned and wrought by Owen Bronson, Thos. Priest, 
 David Priest, and Uriah Oakes. The bed at T. Priest's 
 quarry runs N. 69 E., S. 69 W., and dips to the N. W. 
 70. It is 13 feet wide, and has been opened to the depth 
 of 60 feet, and 300 feet in length. Bronson's quarry is a 
 part of the same bed, and is situated to the S. W. The 
 limestone is crystalline, and of a greyish white color, and 
 is said to make good lime. (See analysis.) David Priest's 
 quarry is situated a mile and a half north-eastward from 
 this locality. 
 
 From David Priest's quarry we took the bearings of the 
 other openings where limestone had been obtained. T. 
 Priest's quarry bears S. 71 W. Uriah Oakes' N. 81 E. 
 From these bearings it will appear that there must be sev- 
 eral distinct beds of limestone, running parallel with each 
 other, or the strata may curve where they may not be 
 observed on account of the superficial covering of soil. 
 
 I shall give the statistical information obtained at these 
 quarries in another part of this Report, where the compo- 
 sition of the limestone will also be stated. 
 
 FRANCONIA. This town owes its rise and prosperity to 
 the discovery and working of a rich vein of granular mag- 
 netic iron ore, which exists within the present limits of 
 the town of Lisbon, at its south-eastern corner. The iron 
 ore is a vein from 3 1-2 to 4 feet wide, included in granite 
 rocks. The course of the vein is N. 30 E., S. 30 W., 
 and its dip is to the south-east 70 or 80. It has been op- 
 
FRANCONIA. 95 
 
 ened and wrought 40 rods in length, and 144 feet in depth. 
 The ore is blasted out by the workmen, and are employed 
 by a contractor who supplies the Franconia furnace. The 
 mine is wrought open to daylight, and is but partially cov- 
 ered to keep out the rain. 
 
 On measuring the direction of this vein it was evident 
 that it extended into the valley below, and on searching 
 on the hill-side in that direction it was readily discovered. 
 
 It is probable that openings will be made there, and a 
 gallery will then be cut into the hill. Formerly much ex- 
 pense was incurred by unskilful searching for additional 
 veins of iron ore, many old drifts being shewn us by the 
 present skilful director, Captain Putnam, where a vast deal 
 of labor and expense had been wasted in fruitless search. 
 In one place there was a gallery 120 feet long cut in the 
 solid granite, without any indications of a vein of iron ore. 
 Near this another vein was cut in a northerly direction, 
 for the distance of 71 feet, also without discovering any 
 ore. 
 
 There are some very curious irregularities in the courses 
 of the iron ore veins, which probably embarrassed the first 
 miners who worked at this place. One of the veins on 
 the hill forms a large curve, and is nipped out at one ex- 
 tremity. When first opened it was 6 feet wide, but it rap- 
 idly diminished in power to 1 1-2 feet wide as it entered 
 the rock. Many curious and remarkable caverns have been 
 formed in the rocky sides of the hill by these mining ex- 
 cavations. 
 
 Numerous interesting minerals have also been brought 
 to light, and may be found among the rejected masses 
 which have been blasted out. The most abundant and 
 interesting minerals are a brilliant deep brownish red man- 
 ganesian garnet, crystallized and granular epidote, pris- 
 matic and bladed crystals of hornblende, rhombic dodeca- 
 
96 FRANCONIA. 
 
 hedral crystals of magnetic iron ore, with striae indicating 
 their origin from the octahedral primary form* 
 
 These minerals have long since been familiar to most of 
 the mineralogists of the country, since they have been ex- 
 tensively distributed by exchanges. Every season many 
 mineralogists journey to Franconia for the purpose of col- 
 lecting specimens which are abundantly obtained at the 
 mines. 
 
 Having measured the extent of the iron vein so far as 
 it is opened, and procured a good collection of specimens 
 for analysis and for the State Cabinet, we returned to the 
 village of Franconia, examined the furnaces, and collected 
 some valuable statistical matter, furnished through the po- 
 liteness of the agent. 
 
 (See another part of this Report for chemical analysis 
 of the ore, and for statistical information respecting the 
 iron works. ) 
 
 On the estate of Mr. Horace Brooks occur several veins 
 of copper pyrites, included in mica slate rocks, and associ- 
 ated with veins of quartz. These veins were examined, 
 and were found too narrow for profitable mining, their 
 width being rarely more than 6 or 8 inches, while the 
 gangue or vein-stone is exceedingly hard. Fine cabinet 
 specimens, nevertheless, may be obtained without much 
 trouble. 
 
 A new and interesting mineral occurs, associated with 
 the quartz containing the copper ores. It is a crystallized 
 ore, consisting of iron, cobalt, arsenicj and sulphur. This 
 mineral has been analyzed by Mr. A. A. Hayes, who as- 
 certained that it was a new species, and named it in honor 
 of his teacher, the late Professor Dana of Dartmouth Col- 
 lege. In the chemical department of this Report this min- 
 eral will be described. 
 
 The scenery of the Franconia Notch, and the view from 
 
FRANCONIA. 97 
 
 the summit of Mount La Fayette, have justly been admir- 
 ed by travellers. 
 
 Although less imposing than the wild magnificence of 
 the White Mountain Notch, it still may present attractions 
 of another character which will prove equally interesting 
 to the curious. The Basin, Flume, and the profile moun- 
 tain are the usual scenes admired by travellers who visit 
 this place. 
 
 The Basin is a deep excavation in granite, which has 
 been formed by the continual action of the falling waters 
 of the Pemmasawasset, aided by the whirling and grind- 
 ing action of boulders of rocks swept into the cavity by 
 the stream. The diameter of this rocky basin is about 30 
 by 40 feet, and its depth appears to be in such proportion 
 as to form a deep bowl, which is always filled to the brim 
 with the most pellucid and cold water. On one side the 
 rocks jut over the brim of the basin, forming a pretty grotto 
 beneath, while the embankment, covered with green moss 
 and wood-flowers, presents a pleasant contrast to the foam- 
 ing cascade which rushes down the broken surface of the 
 rocks. 
 
 The Flume is situate 3-4 of a mile from the main road, 
 on the left hand as you go from Franconia. A narrow path 
 through the woods conducts the traveller to the spot. On 
 the way he must, however, cross over several small 
 streams on fallen trees, which there are the only bridges, 
 and will walk in a shallow sheet of water, which rushes 
 swiftly down a smooth inclined plane of granite. It is, 
 therefore, advisable always to proceed on foot. 
 
 The Flume is a deep chasm, having mural precipices of 
 granite on each side, while a mountain torrent rushes 
 through its midst, falling over precipitous crags and loose 
 masses of rock. During the freshets of the spring season 
 and in early summer, it is not practicable to walk in the 
 bed of the flume, but in the driest season of the year there 
 
98 FRANCONIA. 
 
 is but little water in it, and the bottom of the ravine af- 
 fords a good foot-path. 
 
 The direction of this rocky fissure is N. 80 E., and it 
 appears to have resulted, not from the abrasion of the rocks 
 by the action of running water, but to have been produced 
 originally by a fracture of the uplifted rocks. 
 
 The walls of the chasm on either hand exhibit proofs 
 in favor of this opinion, for they are not water-worn, but 
 present surfaces of fracture, and the projecting ledges on 
 each side are still comparatively sharp and well defined in 
 their outlines. 
 
 One of the most remarkable objects in the Flume is an 
 immense rounded block of granite, which hangs over head, 
 supported merely by small surfaces of contact against its 
 sides. It appears to the traveller looking at it from below 
 as if ready to fall upon him. 
 
 The trunk of a fallen tree crosses the top of the ravine, 
 and affords a natural bridge to adventurous persons who 
 rejoice in the feat of crossing so narrow a foot-path sus- 
 pended high in air. No one unaccustomed to feats of the 
 kind should attempt so unnecessary and dangerous a pass. 
 
 I have been told by persons who have seen the Flume 
 when nearly free from water, that near its upper part a 
 dyke of trap-rock may be seen. A few fragments or smooth 
 boulders of that rock were observed in its channel, but, al- 
 though my assistants waded throughout its entire extent, 
 they saw no dyke. If small, it may have been covered by 
 deep running water. 
 
 The most remarkable object seen from the Notch is the 
 Profile called the Old Man of the Mountain. This may 
 be seen at a point indicated by a guide-board on the road. 
 As the traveller reaches this point, he is directed by the 
 guide-board to look on the opposite side of the way, where 
 he discovers a stern visage of gigantic proportions on the 
 brow of a rocky mountain, looking boldly upward. 
 
I'RANCONIA. 99 
 
 This remarkable object was first discovered about 40 
 years ago, when laying out the road. Had it been known 
 to the Aborigines, I doubt not it would have been an ob- 
 ject of superstitious worship. 
 
 Mount La Fayette is a lofty conical mountain of gran- 
 ite, situated to the south-eastward of the village of Fran- 
 conia. Although not so elevated as Mount Washington, 
 it presents an equally interesting view from its summit, and 
 is frequently ascended by travellers. 
 
 In order to measure its altitude and its latitude, and 
 place on the map, we ascended to its summit, carrying with 
 us a sextant, artificial horizon, barometer, and Messiat com- 
 pass, and made a series of observations to effect our ob- 
 ject. 
 
 A rude foot-path has been cleared for part of the way 
 up the side of the mountain, but for a considerable dis- 
 tance we had to scramble over fallen trees and rocks. 
 Emerging from a forest of small spruce trees, we next came 
 to ledges and detached rocks of granite, the loose blocks 
 of which are generally angular, and do not appear to have 
 been worn by the action of water. They are similar to the 
 rock composing the ledges of the mountain, and therefore 
 cannot be considered as of diluvial deposition. 
 
 The vegetation near the top of the mountain is similar 
 to that upon Mount Washington the mountain cranberry, 
 vaccinium oxicoccus and saxifragas. Blue-berries and hare- 
 bells abound amid the crannies of the rocks, but no forest 
 trees grow near the summit. From the highest peak of 
 this mountain Mount Washington bears N. 80 E., Fran- 
 conia Village N. 35 W., Moosehillock S. 54 E. The 
 ranges of mountains seen to the east appear to be parallel 
 ranges running. north and south. 
 
 By a comparison of barometrical observations, made at 
 Franconia, Portsmouth, and upon the summit of Mount 
 La Fayette, we were enabled to ascertain by calculation 
 
100 WHITE MOUNTAINS. 
 
 the height of the mountain above the level of the sea, 
 which was found to be 5067 feet. 
 
 By a meridional observation of the sun, its latitude is 
 44 8' 59" 4. 
 
 No minerals of any importance were found in the gran- 
 ite rocks composing the mass of this mountain, but a very 
 good view of the contour of the surrounding country may 
 be obtained, and the lovers of the picturesque will always 
 find enough to repay them for the labor of ascending to 
 its summit. 
 
 From Franconia we passed through Bethlehem to the 
 Notch of the White Mountains, observing no rocks ex- 
 cepting granite and gneiss, the surfaces of which were oc- 
 casionally marked by diluvial strise. Each hill on our way 
 was measured barometrically, so that we shall be enabled 
 to draw a sectional profile of the route. At Mr. T. J. 
 Crawford's we made all the requisite preparations for meas- 
 uring the altitudes and latitudes of Mount Washington and 
 the adjacent mountains, which we proposed to examine. 
 
 By meridional observation of the sun at T. J. Crawford's, 
 the latitude of that place is N. 44 12' 53", and its eleva- 
 tion above the sea-level is 1829 feet. 
 
 A horse-path had just been completed to the summit of 
 the mountain, and we were enabled easily to make our as- 
 cent, carrying in safety all the instruments for the obser- 
 vations which we proposed to make. 
 
 Mr. Abel Crawford, the veteran guide of the mountain, 
 accompanied us, and leading our party was the first man 
 who ever rode to the summit of Mount Washington. 
 
 Before leaving the Notch House, barometrical observa- 
 tions were taken, and on our ascent they were repeated 
 with two instruments upon every eminence over which we 
 passed. Since it was intended to leave two of my assis- 
 tants to make observations upon the summit of the moun- 
 
WHITE MOUNTAINS. ,,,,.,,., , 101 
 
 5 ** ; , ; ,' p ^ , ' \*t 
 
 tain, while the remainder of our party returned with one 
 of the instruments, we provided ourselves with camp equip- 
 age, and Messrs. Williams and Baker volunteered to remain 
 there through the night, for the purpose of observing the 
 barometer at the summit, while we took simultaneous ob- 
 servations below. Being duly provided with sextant, ar- 
 tificial horizon, barometers, thermometers, and our usual 
 geological instruments, we set out from Mr. Crawford's at 
 7A.M. 
 
 Entering a narrow foot-path leading through the forest, 
 we rode to the summit of Mount Clinton, a bald mountain 
 having no other forest trees upon it save a few stunted and 
 dead spruces, which were killed by fire. At this place ba- 
 rometrical observations were taken, and the spot was mark- 
 ed for repetition of the observations on our descent. From 
 this place we proceeded to Mount Pleasant, where similar 
 observations were taken ; theawe passed to Mount Frank- 
 lin, where the same operations were performed. 
 
 On Mount Franklin all traces of vegetation, excepting 
 plants of an Alpine character, disappear. 
 
 The rocks consist entirely of granite and gneiss, with 
 occasional veins of quartz. 
 
 Several small ponds and springs occur near this spot, 
 and travellers generally stop a while there to refresh them- 
 selves before ascending to the summit of Mount Washing- 
 ton, which is in full view, and presents its rough and rocky 
 escarpments. At 11 3-4, A. M., we reached the summit 
 of Mount Washington on horseback, a feat quite novel, 
 this being the first time that it has been effected. 
 
 Travellers should thank the Crawford family for having 
 made this ascent so easy and agreeable, for now any per- 
 son who knows how to ride may safely travel on horse- 
 back over their path to the very highest point in New 
 England. 
 
102 WHITE MOUNTAINS. 
 
 I doubt not that this circumstance will induce a greater 
 number of persons to ascend the mountain. 
 
 Having reached the summit of Mt. Washington, we allow- 
 our horses to pick the dry, harsh, but sweet grasses which 
 grow in the crevices of the rocks, and proceeded to make 
 ready for our observations. By means of a mercurial ho- 
 rizon, and one of Gambey's sextants, I measured the lati- 
 tude of the mountain by a meridional altitude of the sun, 
 correcting by barometrical and thermometrical observa- 
 tions for the refraction, and using the most minute pre- 
 cautions for accuracy. 
 
 By the observation we have calculated the latitude of 
 the summit of Mount Washington to be N. 44 16' 34" 
 48. By means of a series of barometrical and thermom- 
 etrical observations, made for a period of twelve hours at 
 a time, when the weather was remarkably favorable, and 
 the atmospheric pressure was stationary throughout the 
 State, as shown by other observations made at the same 
 time, we have ascertained the height of Mount Washing- 
 ton to be 6226 feet above the high water mark in Ports- 
 mouth harbor. Calculated by a series of observations, the 
 height is 6228 feet, making but 2 feet difference in the el- 
 evation, and on single observations the difference is but 6 
 feet. We may therefore feel satisfied with the correctness 
 of our result. 
 
 The Geological features of Mount Washington possess 
 but little interest, the rocks in place consisting of a coarse 
 variety of mica slate, passing into gneiss, which contains 
 a few crystals of black tourmaline and quartz. The cone 
 of the mountain and its summit are covered with myriads 
 of angular and flat blocks and slabs of mica slate, piled in 
 confusion one upon the other. They are identical in na- 
 ture with the rocks in place, and bear no marks of trans- 
 portation or abrasion by the action of water. 
 
 On the declivity of the cone occurs a vein of milky and 
 
WHITE MOUNTAINS. 103 
 
 rose colored quartz, but it is not sufficiently colored to 
 form elegant specimens. 
 
 The Geologist will be fully rewarded for his toil in as- 
 cending this mountain, by the magnificent and compre- 
 hensive view which may be obtained of the surrounding 
 country. He will remark that the mountains are not 
 grouped at random, but form regular ranges, running in 
 definite directions coinciding with the axis of elevation of 
 each range. 
 
 To the south-eastward three ranges of mountains are seen 
 and appear to run N. N. E., while to the south-west the 
 mountains run in a nearly North and South direction. 
 The valleys are observed to be regularly continuous be- 
 tween the mountains. The whole country, so far as the 
 eye can reach, is thickly clad with the primeval forest 
 trees. 
 
 Having completed such observations as were deemed 
 essential to our purpose, Mr. Whitney and myself descen- 
 ded with one of the barometers, taking observations at 
 each spot where we had observed in the morning, Messrs. 
 Williams and Baker remaining, meanwhile, on the sum- 
 mit of the mountain, engaged in making hourly similar 
 observations on the instrument suspended at that spot. 
 They were directed to camp near the summit of the moun- 
 tain, and to commence their observations during the next 
 day, while we were engaged in making observations be- 
 low at the Notch House. 
 
 By taking a mean of a given number of barometrical 
 and thermometrical observations, and calculating them as 
 two sets, we are enabled to make a more accurate meas- 
 urement than had before been effected ; and by calculating 
 the height of each separate station, and comparing the re- 
 sult with those obtained by the above-mentioned method, 
 we are enabled to prove the correctness of the work. 
 
 The height of the Notch House above the sea-level was 
 
104 WHITE MOUNTAINS. 
 
 obtained in a similar manner, by comparing the observa- 
 tions made at Portsmouth with those made at T. J. Craw- 
 ford's. 
 
 From the lofty peaks of the White Mountains we pro- 
 ceeded to explore the ranges of a lower level, which form 
 their outskirts or spurs. In the towns of Bartlett and Jack- 
 son occur several valuable ores, which I had partly explored 
 on a former occasion. 
 
 The most important of these minerals is the iron ore 
 which exists in inexhaustible quantities on Baldface Moun- 
 tain, between the rocky branch of the Saco and Ellis ri- 
 vers in Bartlett, near the South line of the town of Jack- 
 son. 
 
 Baldface Mountain is composed of granite, having a few 
 dykes of greenstone trap cutting through its midst. 
 The elevation at which the iron ore occurs is 1404 feet 
 above the Rocky branch of the Saco, and about one mile 
 distant. The slope of the mountain to the river is from 
 17 to 20. 
 
 Since my first visit, which was made four years ago, 
 some new openings have been made, for the purpose of 
 discovering the boundaries of the veins of iron ore, and 
 I had therefore a better opportunity of estimating the val- 
 ue of the ore. 
 
 One of the veins at the upper opening measures 37 feet 
 in width in an East and West, and 16 feet in a North and 
 South direction. 
 
 The second opening, 200 feet lower down the slope of 
 the hill, exposes the ore maintaining the same width. 
 ThiT.e hundred feet lower down, the vein is observed to 
 narrow, and is but 10 feet wide, and 400 feet further down 
 the width increases to 55 feet. 
 
 546 feet lower still there is a. small opening or cave 20 
 feet deep, where the ore narrows again. 
 
 On searching to the westward of this great vein, at the 
 
IRON MINE IN BARTLETT. 105 
 
 distance of 250 feet we soon discovered a new one, which 
 appears to be of large dimensions, but we were unable to 
 uncover it sufficiently to determine its width. 
 
 49 feet farther westward the soil is full of angular frag- 
 ments of the ore, indicating another vein. 
 
 It is evident that this mountain is intersected by a great 
 number of veins of excellent iron ore, and will furnish an 
 inexhaustible supply for a furnace. 
 
 It is difficult, in the present condition of the mines, to^ 
 ascertain the precise direction of the veins, since their 
 walls are not exposed for a sufficient distance to furnish 
 the requisite data ; but the general course of the openings 
 indicates the direction to be nearly N. 37 E., S. 37 W. 
 
 In the chemical department of this report will be stated 
 the exact chemical composition of this ore, It may be 
 proper here to remark that it is composed chiefly of the 
 per-oxide of iron, combined with a small proportion of the 
 prot-oxide, and it contains a little oxide of manganese. 
 
 From the composition of the ore, we know that it will 
 make excellent iron, and the best kind of steel. The pres- 
 ence of a small proportion of manganese favors the forma- 
 tion of a steel of very fine grain, suitable for cutlery. (See 
 Berzelius traite de Per.) 
 
 The mines are situate 30 miles from the town of Bridge- 
 ton, in Maine, where the canal affords a means of cheap 
 transportation of the iron to Portland. A good road, reg- 
 ularly descending, leads to Bridgeton, and it is said to be 
 practicable to shorten the distance about eight miles, by a 
 slight change in its course. The country around the iron 
 mines is thickly clad with hard wood, suitable for the 
 manufacture of charcoal j which can be furnished at a very 
 reasonable cost. There is reason to believe that these 
 mines will soon be wrought, both for domestic use and for 
 the supply of the Atlantic cities. It should be remem- 
 bered that, although iron made with charcoal costs more 
 
 13 
 
 
106 JACKSON. 
 
 than the English iron, which is made with coke or bitu- 
 minous coal, that it is vastly better for machinery, where 
 a soft and pure iron is wanted. 
 
 A small quantity of bog iron ore has also been discov- 
 ered in the town of Jackson, 5 miles North from Chesley's 
 Tavern, in the midst of the forest. 
 
 I examined the place, and found the quantity of iron 
 ore too small to warrant the expense of digging it out of 
 the bog. The peat which composes the principal part of 
 the swamp is vastly more valuable for agricultural use. 
 
 Near the house of Captain J. Trickey occur several 
 dykes of greenstone trap, which are so highly charged with 
 carbonate of lime as to effervesce strongly with acids. On 
 chemical examination, the rock was found too poor for 
 burning into lime, but it will answer a useful purpose as a 
 flux for the iron ore. Crystals of quartz forming hand- 
 some druses are found in the granite at the same place. 
 Iron pyrites also occurs in disseminated crystals. 
 
 The trap dykes are very remarkable, and are worthy of 
 a visit. They cut through strata of mica slate, gneiss, and 
 a granite vein. 
 
 One of the dykes measures 50 feet in width, and exhi- 
 bits at its junction those curious metamorphoses which are 
 observed at their points of contact with other rocks. 
 
 One of the dykes, as before mentioned, contains carbon- 
 ate of lime in combination with the rock, and in the form 
 of incrustations and in slender veins. In some places the 
 limestone appears to have been converted into a compact 
 chert, particularly at the junction of the rock with the mi- 
 ca slate walls. Where the pyritiferous mica slate decom- 
 poses, the surface is covered with a bright yellow powder, 
 which is the per-oxide and sub-sulphate of iron, mixed 
 with the fine particles of decomposed rock. 
 
 On a former occasion I had ascertained the existence of 
 arsenical pyrites in the town of Jackson, and during the 
 
JACKSON. 107 
 
 present visit it was thought proper to examine the vein in 
 order to ascertain its extent and value. Having other lo- 
 calities to visit, I engaged Mr. Eastman to have a quantity 
 of the ore blasted out, and when this was done I visited 
 the locality and examined it minutely. While searching 
 for crystals of arsenical cobalt, I discovered a small vein of 
 copper pyrites and crystals of oxide of tin. The mass of 
 rock from which the tin was obtained appeared to have 
 formed a part of the rock including the arsenical pyrites, 
 for it was traversed by the arsenical vein. The mass of 
 tin ore was sharp angular, and had been freshly broken 
 from the rock. Besides the crystallized tin ore I also found 
 the compact and the granular varieties intermixed in the 
 mass. 
 
 The crystals of oxide of tin are thickly implanted and 
 mixed with the matrix, so that the ore would prove work- 
 able if a sufficiency could be obtained to supply a furnace. 
 The oxide of tin had a deep hair-brown color, and was 
 regularly crystallized in the secondary or prismatic forms, 
 with terminal planes like those from Cornwall. Some of 
 the crystals have re-entering and salient angles, or are he- 
 mitropic. A figure will be given in this Report, represen- 
 ting the measured angles and form of the mineral. 
 
 From the external characters I had no doubt that the 
 ore was one of tin, and in the evening of the same day 1 
 proved it by reducing the tin to its metallic state, and then 
 converted it by means of nitric acid into the insoluble 
 white oxide of tin, known to chemists under the name of 
 stannic acid. Since that time I have reduced a quantity 
 of the ore to its metallic state, and have deposited a piece 
 of it in the State Cabinet at Concord. 
 
 This discovery is regarded as one of no small import- 
 ance, for although a few minute grains of oxide of tin are 
 said to have been previously found in New England, this 
 may be considered as the first rich tin ore that has been 
 
108 JACKSON. 
 
 discovered in the United States. By washing the ore in a 
 manner similar to that used in large works, a portion of 
 the rock is removed, and the ore then yields on the aver- 
 age 30 per cent, of pure tin, and when more thoroughly 
 cleansed it gave 50 per cent. I hope that an effort will be 
 made to search out other veins, and in order to aid 
 such a discovery, I shall, in the chemical part of this 
 Report, give a detailed account of the characters and prop- 
 erties of oxide of tin. It is highly probable, since oxide 
 of tin has not the slightest metallic appearance, but ap- 
 pears like a brownish colored stone, that it has been over- 
 looked by people who are not familiar with minerals. 
 
 If, indeed, large masses were found, the weight of the 
 ore might lead some persons to suspect that it contained a 
 metal ; but this is very rarely the case, since the ore is ei- 
 ther found in scattered crystals or in small rounded peb- 
 bles, which latter are known in commerce under the names 
 of stream and wood tin. The crystals found on Mr. East- 
 man's land are rarely more than 1-4 of an inch in length, 
 and one-sixth of an inch in diameter, but the fine granular 
 tin ore abounds in the same mass. 
 
 I should advise the people who are interested in the 
 mine to blast out the arsenic ore, which will sell for $40 
 per ton if well selected. This will repay the expense of 
 mining, and by opening the arsenic vein it is probable that 
 more tin ore will be found, since it occurs beside that ore, 
 forming one of the walls of the vein. The arsenical py- 
 rites is used for making arseniate of potash, which is em- 
 ployed in the manufacture of Scheeles green, and in calico 
 printing. The ore above noticed yields on distillation from 
 30 to 40 per cent, of pure metallic arsenic. It contains 
 about 60 per cent., but a portion of the arsenic remains 
 combined with the iron, so that it is not all obtained. By 
 deflagration with nitre, a much larger proportion of the ar- 
 senic may be extracted in the form of arseniate of potash, 
 
PIGWACKET MOUNTAIN. 109 
 
 Investing the ore and in its cavities there frequently oc- 
 curs a lemon-yellow powder, which is the sulphuret of ar- 
 senic or orpiment. It is a substance used in painting, but 
 is poisonous, and care should be taken not to make the 
 walls of a well or spring with rocks containing this ore, for 
 the water would dissolve the sulphuret of arsenic, and be- 
 come poisonous. 
 
 Arsenical pyrites is said to be a rare mineral in Europe, 
 but in this country it is very abundant, especially in the 
 States of Maine, New-Hampshire, and Massachusetts. It 
 may in several places be economically wrought for the 
 manufacture of arseniate of potash, and for metallic arsenic, 
 which is required for making lead granulate in shot manufac- 
 tories. The market is at present supplied by the furnaces of 
 Germany ; where the arsenical ores are roasted, and the arse- 
 nic is sublimed in the state of white oxide or arsenious acid. 
 
 Metallic arsenic is also used in making speculum metal 
 for astronomical telescopes, but the demand for the pure 
 metal for that purpose is quite limited. Recently the in- 
 troduction of arsenical compounds in calico printing works 
 has caused a great increase in the demand for its salts and 
 oxide. 
 
 While engaged in exploring the Geological resources of 
 Jackson, many citizens of that town freely tendered their 
 services, and aided us in the labor. Our thanks are due to 
 them for their spirited exertions in behalf of the survey. 
 
 When we had examined the rocks and the most impor- 
 tant minerals in that town, we proceeded to Bartlett and 
 ascended the Kearsarge or Pigwacket Mountain, where it 
 was stated that some expectations had been entertained 
 of finding coal and roofing slate. The result of our ex- 
 amination proved that the rocks on this mountain do not 
 belong to the coal formation, and that no good roofing slate 
 can be obtained there. 
 
 On ascending the mountain on its south-eastern side, 
 
* 110 PIGWACKET MOUNTAIN. 
 
 we came first to a coarse variety of granite, consisting of 
 felspar and quartz, without any mica, which is overlaid by 
 a breccia of granite and argillaceous slate, above which rest 
 the regular strata of argillaceous slate, which run N. 75 
 E., S. 75 W., and dip to the N. N. W. 30, or the strata 
 dip towards the mountain. 
 
 This slate is compact, and is much broken and twisted, 
 so that it would not answer for covering roofs. Occasion- 
 ally a few good slabs may be obtained, which might an- 
 swer for tomb-stones or for platforms, but no attempt has 
 yet been made to quarry them. 
 
 Higher up the mountain we discover a very singular 
 breccia, made up of the large broken fragments of the ar- 
 gillaceous slate rocks, mixed confusedly with the granite 
 which closely invests them. This breccia was evidently 
 formed by the eruption of granite through a thick bed of 
 argillaceous slate rocks, the strata having been broken into 
 fragments of a rhomboidal form, and into pieces which va- 
 ry from a few inches to a yard- or more square. 
 
 The fragments lay in every imaginable position, just as 
 if they were swept up by a thick, pasty mass of semi-fluid 
 granite, which indurated around them by cooling. Some 
 of the masses were rendered scoriacous, and resemble ve- 
 sicular trap-rock, but generally they do not appear to have 
 been much altered by heat. 
 
 The granite contains no mica, but is composed princi- 
 pally of felspar, with a little quartz. There are no roun- 
 ded or water-worn pebbles in the breccia, hence it cannot 
 be considered as a conglomerate of aqueous deposition. 
 
 This locality proves most incontestibly the correctness 
 of a statement made in my Reports on the Geology of 
 Maine, that the eruption of the granite rocks of this region 
 took place immediatel/ after the deposition of the roofing- 
 slate, while other localities in Maine indicate that the erup- 
 
PIGWACKET MOUNTAIN. Ill 
 
 tion was anterior to the deposition of the red sandstones 
 of the St. Croix and New Brunswick. 
 
 On reaching the summit of Pigwacket Mountain, the 
 rocks were found to consist of a very hard breccia, com- 
 posed of the same kind of granite before described, con- 
 taining small fragments of slate, rarely more than an inch 
 in diameter. 
 
 Diluvial furrows occur on the surface of the included 
 masses of slate, at about half way up the mountain, and 
 run N. 30 W., S. 30 E., and it is evident, from their 
 uniform course, that. they were produced since the slate 
 was included in the breccia. 
 
 From the summit of this mountain the following bear- 
 ings were taken, by means of a Messiat compass : 
 
 Mt. Washington N. 30 30' W. 
 
 Baldface Mt > N ^ 3Q/ w 
 
 Iron Mine $ 
 
 Chocorua peak, highest, S. 52 30 / W. 
 
 Pry burg Village S. 31 35' W. 
 
 Lovel's Pond S. 37 E. 
 
 Chatigee Corner S. 20 E. 
 
 Saco River is seen to the S. W., and winds around to 
 the S. E., forming an oxbow at Fryburg Village. 
 
 The ranges of mountains seen from this peak have a N. 
 and S. direction. 
 
 The view of the surrounding country is truly magnifi- 
 cent, and is more picturesque than that obtained from the 
 summits of very elevated mountains. 
 
 We were not able to measure its altitude above the 
 sea, on account of the accidental breaking of the barome- 
 ter a few days previous. It is, however, a lofty mountain, 
 since the only vegetation on its summit consists of the 
 high Alpine plants, such as grow near the summits of Mts. 
 Washington and La Fayette, but it is not so high as even 
 the last mentioned mountain, 
 
112 EATON. 
 
 Prom Bartlett to Eaton the rocks are uniformly granite, 
 and the soil is composed of its finely comminuted parti- 
 cles. 
 
 In the town of Eaton, 14 years since, I had occasion to 
 examine a vein of sulphuret of lead and blende, which 
 was discovered at that time, and was subsequently wrought 
 to some extent by Messrs. Binney, Ripley and Tyson. At 
 the time of my first visit the country around the mine was 
 a wilderness, and but a few blasts had been made to ex- 
 tract samples of the ore from the vein. Since that time a 
 shaft has been sunk into the vein, to the depth of 40 feet, 
 and a quantity of the galena was extracted for trial. Fif- 
 teen barrels of the picked lead ore, weighing from 1,200 
 to 1,260 Ibs. each, were sent to Baltimore for reduction to 
 lead, and several hogsheads of it were , sent to Boston by 
 the way of Portland. The zinc ore which forms the prin- 
 cipal mass of the vein was entirely neglected, and several 
 hundred tons of it now lie near the mouth of the mine. 
 
 I thought it would prove interesting to make a renewed 
 examination of this vein, in order to ascertain the practi- 
 cability of working it for zinc, and re-visited it for that 
 purpose. 
 
 The width of the vein, as I had before stated, is six feet, 
 and it consists mostly of yellow blende, or sulphuret of 
 zinc, which includes veins and scattered masses of galena 
 or sulphuret of lead. The course of the principal vein is 
 N. 21 E., S. 21 W., and it dips to the westward 60 or 
 65. Beside this occur a number of smaller veins, from a 
 few inches to one foot wide. Drainage is practicable and 
 easy for the depth of more than 100 feet into a pond close 
 by it on the North. A gallery should be cut from this 
 pond to the vein, so as to free the mine from water, the 
 vein being readily struck at a lower level by this means, 
 while by continuing the present perpendicular shaft, ven- 
 tilation may be readily and conveniently effected. A vein 
 
EATON. TAMWORTH. MOULTONBOROUGH. 113 
 
 six feet wide affords ample room for the miners to work, 
 keeping always among the ore, so that no labor Jwill be 
 wasted. I have no doubt that this mine will prove valu- 
 able, provided the zinc ore is wrought. The lead ore may 
 be separated into one heap, and the zinc into another, so 
 that both ores may be wrought at the same works. The 
 zinc ore contains 63 per cent, of metallic zinc, according 
 to my analysis, and should yield in the large way from 35 
 to 40 per cent, of the metal. 
 
 The lead ore contains 84 per cent, of lead, and should 
 yield 75 per cent, when smelted in the large way. 
 
 1000 pounds of the lead ore contains 1 pound of silver, 
 and if the ore is converted into litharge, after the English 
 and German methods, the silver may be separated and re- 
 fined. If all these operations should be carried on at the 
 same works, it would be necessary to have a large capital 
 and experienced workmen to conduct the operations. 
 
 An abundance of charcoal may be obtained for supply- 
 ing the furnaces, and its present price is $4 per hundred 
 bushels. 
 
 It is hoped that persons interested in mines will attend 
 to this valuable vein, for it is one of the largest and richest 
 in New England. 
 
 Copper pyrites has been found 2 miles N. E. from At- 
 kins' Tavern, in Eaton, and bog iron ore near Walker's 
 Pond, in the East part of the town, also on Larey's Hill. 
 I saw specimens of the ore, but was unable to visit the lo- 
 cality, on account of illness, which confined me to the 
 house for a week. 
 
 Lead ore also exists near White Pond, in Tamworth, but 
 I was not able, at the time of my visit to examine the lo- 
 cality, but shall take an early opportunity to explore the 
 veins and ascertain their value. 
 
 The rocks in Tamworth and Moultonborough are gran- 
 ite, cut through occasionally by powerful dykes of green- 
 
 14 
 
114 GUNSTOCK MOUNTAIN. 
 
 stone trap rock and sienite. Ossipee Mountain and Red 
 Hill present interesting examples, and have been described 
 by my assistants in a former section. The region around 
 Winnipissiogee Lake was also explored by them, and I 
 subsequently visited it for the purpose of obtaining some 
 additional information respecting a vein of iron ore on 
 Gunstock Mountain, in Gilford, and statistics concerning 
 the fertility of the soil on Cow and Long Islands. 
 
 In the chemical and agricultural departments, I shall 
 state the facts learned on this subject. 
 
 The vein of magnetic iron ore on Gunstock Mountain 
 was opened for the purpose of obtaining iron ore for the 
 supply of a furnace, but was soon abandoned, since the 
 vein was found to be too narrow to furnish an adequate 
 supply of ore. The ground around the mine is covered 
 with an abundance of the ore, which is highly magnetic 
 with polarity, and will furnish an abundance of native 
 magnets. 
 
 From the summit of this mountain we have a magnifi- 
 cent view of Winnipissiogee Lake, with its numerous bays 
 and islands ; of the latter we counted no less than sixty in 
 full view. The mountain is elevated 1583 feet above the 
 ground at Gilford, and is 2068 feet above the sea-level. 
 
 By a meridional observation of the sun, its latitude is 
 N. 43 31' 56". 
 
 The following bearings were taken with a Messiat com- 
 pass from the summit of Gunstock Mountain : 
 
 Meeting-house at Meredith Bridge, N. 78 20' W. 
 
 North peak Ossipee Mt. N. 16 25' E. 
 
 Chocoma peak, N. 17 30' E. 
 
 Centre Harbor M. H. N. 9 30' W. 
 
 Meredith Village Cong. M.. H. N. 26 W. 
 
 Wolfborough Village Bridge, N. 72 25' E. 
 
 These observations may prove of some utility in fixing 
 the situations of places on the Map of the State. 
 
GILFORD. MEREDITH. CANTERBURY. 115 
 
 Loose blocks or boulders of Limestone occur in Gilford, 
 but no such rock has yet been found there in place. 
 
 They have been found, it is said, on the estate of Dr. 
 J. L. Perley, of the size of a bushel basket. The rocks 
 on the farm belonging to Dr. Perley's father, three miles 
 to the North of this place, are said to be sufficiently cal- 
 careous to effervesce with acids, but are not like the masses 
 of limestone which have been found Joose. It will be in- 
 teresting to ascertain the original bed of these erratic 
 blocks of limestone, which must have been transported 
 from the north-west, according to the course of the an- 
 cient currents, as indicated by striae on the surface of the 
 rocks. 
 
 Near Meredith Bridge there is a small deposit of peat, 
 which is from 2 to 3 feet deep, and may be converted into 
 a valuable meadow by suitable treatment. 
 
 Specimens of plumbago wiere shown me, which were 
 said to have been found in Thornton. 
 
 Centre Harbor and the other places of interest around 
 this Lake, have been described by my assistants. 
 
 Canterbury, the seat of a flourishing Shaker settlement, 
 is founded upon granite rocks, and possesses a granite soil, 
 which is not naturally fertile, but by the patient industry 
 and skill of the Society of Shakers, is rendered produc- 
 tive. 
 
 The rocks in the town are not interesting, and, so far as 
 we were enabled to observe, do not promise to be impor- 
 tant as localities of minerals. My attention was, therefore, 
 called to the condition of agriculture with the Shakers, 
 and I had the satisfaction of proving useful to them, by 
 calling their attention to the value of a large tract of peat 
 land which they possess, but had not then rendered valu- 
 able by improving it. 
 
 The bog is about half a mile from their dwellings, and 
 comprises about 50 acres. It is more than thirty feet deep, 
 
116 HILLSBOROUGH. GOSHEN. 
 
 and may be easily drained and cultivated. By cutting 
 ditches around the margin of the bog, the lateral springs 
 may be intercepted, and drawn off into a general drain. 
 The peat dug from the ditches will furnish an abundance 
 of vegetable matter for making compost manure, and when 
 the bog is once drained, its surface may be turned with a 
 plough, and then rolled down, manured and planted. In 
 short, I should recommend precisely that method of treat- 
 ment which is employed by Elias Phinney, Esq., of Lex- 
 ington, an account of which I have formerly published in 
 my Reports on the Geology and Agriculture of Maine and 
 Rhode Island. 
 
 Prom Concord I explored the Geology of the country to 
 Hillsborough, and from thence to Amherst, from whence 
 I measured a sectional line over the country to the west- 
 ward, passing through Peterborough and over Monadnock 
 Mountain, in Dublin, to Keene, and from thence to the 
 Connecticut River, at Brattleborough, Vt. 
 
 A brief outline of this section is all that can at present 
 be attempted. 
 
 In Hillsborough occur a few minerals of interest, which 
 will be mentioned more particularly hereafter. 
 
 Graphite or plumbago is found in a state of great purity, 
 but the veins are narrow, rarely being more than 8 or 10 
 inches wide. It is included in mica slate, which is cut 
 through by a vein of granite. 
 
 The locality is of value to those residing in the neigh- 
 borhood, since mining for plumbago may occupy their lei- 
 sure time, and will repay them well for their labor, since 
 it is worth $60 per ton for the manufacture of crucibles, 
 and is now in constant demand. 
 
 In Goshen a plumbago vein is wrought, by Mr. Pierce, 
 of Hillsborough, who employs a number of men advanta- 
 geously part of the year in the business, and supplies a 
 large quantity of plumbago to the manufacturers of cruci- 
 
SOAPSTONE QUARRY AT FRANCESTOWN. 117 
 
 bles in Taunton, Mass. Mica slate, gneiss, and granite, 
 comprise all the varieties of rocks on this route, until we 
 reach Prancestown, where a very valuable bed of soft tal- 
 cose rock or soapstone occurs, imbedded in the mica slate. 
 
 Description of the Soapstone quarry at Francestown. 
 
 Soapstone of excellent quality exists in Francestown 
 on the estate of Daniel Fuller, Esq. It was discovered 
 by him accidentally in 1794, while engaged in ploughing 
 his field. He remarked that the plough and harrow did 
 not make any gritting noise in passing over this ledge, 
 while it did on the others, and on examining the rock, 
 found it to be a soft variety of soapstone. It was first 
 wrought in 1802, and was transported to Boston for sale in 
 1812. Since that time, the value of the stone has been 
 steadily increasing, and is now in greater demand than 
 ever. 
 
 I visited this quarry, examined the rock with care, and 
 obtained through the politeness of Mr. Fuller a full statis- 
 tical account of the business. The quarry is situated one 
 mile eastward of the Francestown meeting-house. 
 
 The soapstone is a very soft variety of crystalline tal- 
 cose rock, composed entirely of the interlaced crystals or 
 laminae of Talc. It is a regular bed included between 
 walls of mica slate r and runs parallel with the course of 
 the strata N. E. and S. W. and dips to the N. W. 60 In 
 its widest part the bed measures 40 feet in thickness, and 
 it narrows to the south westward to 20 feet. In the mid- 
 dle it measures from 25 to 30 feet. It has been quarried 
 to the depth of 40 feet, but the natural drainage keeps the 
 quarry free from water only to the depth of 36 feet. The 
 length of the bed so far as it is exposed to view is 400 
 feet. 
 
118 SOAPSTONE Q.UARRY AT FRANCESTOWN. 
 
 A small part of the south western extremity of this bed 
 is owned by Mr. Daniel Clarke who also quarries the stone. 
 It is not improbable that the soapstone will be found to 
 extend beyond its present ascertained limits, and it will be 
 worth while for those who are interested to examine the 
 country to the north eastward and south westward of the 
 openings where the stone is now wrought. 
 
 The mode of quarrying soapstone which is here em- 
 ployed is to saw out the blocks by means of large cross- 
 cut saws so as to obtain sound blocks and to waste as little 
 as possible. 
 
 Mr. Fuller proposes to erect a small steam engine to 
 pump out the water from the quarry and the same engine 
 will drive saws for manufacturing the stone into slabs. 
 
 This will allow the quarry to be wrought to a much 
 greater depth. The usual sized blocks now obtained, 
 measure 6 feet by 3, and 7 feet by 5. Smaller blocks and 
 slabs are also wrought, Twelve cubic feet of the rock 
 are estimated to weigh a ton. Cost of quarrying is from 
 seven to ten dollars per ton. About 250 tons have been 
 quarried and sold in a year in the most favorable times. 
 It is transported by teams to Nashua and sent from thence 
 to Charlestown or is carried directly to Boston in wagons. 
 The distance to Boston is 60 miles and the expense of 
 transportation is $7 20 per ton. The stone sells in Boston 
 for $3 00 or 3 50 per cubic foot. It is extensively em- 
 ployed for making fire places, grates, boiler tops, stoves, 
 sinks, funnel pipes, and for rollers used in dressing cotton 
 warp in the factories. 
 
 The rollers are made 4 1-2 feet long and from 5 to 6 
 inches in diameter. Soapstone is preferred to all other 
 materials for the above mentioned use. 
 
 It will be seen from the above statements, that soapstone 
 is a very valuable material and brings a considerable reve- 
 nue to citizens employed in the business. 
 
AMHERST. JAFFREY. 119 
 
 Prom Francestown to Mount Vernon the rocks are mica 
 slate and granite. In the latter town just before descend- 
 ing into the valley of Amherst there is an abrupt mass of 
 a coarse variety of granite containing white felspar. A 
 sudden descent conducts to the plain where the pretty 
 village of Amherst is spread out in a valley of ancient 
 alluvial origin, which appears as if it once formed the basin 
 of a lake but was subsequently filled in part with soil. 
 
 Only a short time was devoted to the examination of 
 this town since the rocks are generally concealed from 
 view and but little real information could be obtained 
 from inspection of them. 
 
 Leaving Amherst, after obtaining much useful agri- 
 cultural information, through the politeness of Mr. Pea- 
 body, we continued our route to Peterborough, obser- 
 ving that the rocks in Milford, Wilton, and Temple, 
 consisted of gneiss and porphyrite granite. The gneiss 
 in Peterborough contains iron pyrites and by its decom- 
 position the rock is strongly stained with the per oxide of 
 iron. Numerous blocks of porphyritic granite, out of 
 place, rest on the surface of the soil. 
 
 We next visited Jaffrey near the base of Monadnock 
 mountain, and having made some astronomical observa- 
 tions to fix the latitude of the place, we ascended to the 
 summit of Monadnock, carrying with us a sextant, artifi- 
 cial horizon, one of the barometers, and a compass. Mr. 
 Cutter of Jaffrey kindly volunteered to guide us by the 
 easiest route to the summit of the mountain. 
 
 Setting out on foot from the house of Elias Mann we 
 began the ascent, remarking that the rocks for the first 
 part of the way are gneiss and mica slate, the strata of 
 which dip to the northward. The mica slate contains an 
 abundance of fibrolite, which gives it a porphyritic ap- 
 pearance. Higher up we noted the occurrence of diluvial 
 
120 . JAFFREY. KEENE. 
 
 scratches on the surface of the rock, They run N. 35 
 W., S. 35 E. 
 
 Above this we came to narrow beds of plumbago which 
 is not pure enough to prove valuable. HJPy rope garnets 
 also abound in the granite veins. 
 
 At 11 A. M. we reached the summit of the mountain, 
 and after making due preparations, took the requisite ob- 
 servations for determining the height and place of the 
 mountain. 
 
 The rocks on the summit of Monadnock consist of a 
 hard variety of gneiss filled with small crystals of garnets. 
 The plants are generally of an Alpine character ; only a 
 few dwarfish spruce trees grow in the crevices of the 
 rocks with an abundance of mountain saxifragas and car- 
 ices. The declivity of the mountain is celebrated for the 
 abundance and fine quality of its blueberries which tempt 
 the people resident in the vicinity to ascend the mountain 
 for the purpose of gathering them. 
 
 The surrounding country seen from this elevated peak 
 appears to be an extended plain the surface of which is 
 studded with villages. Keene bears N. 30 W. ; Jaffrey, 
 S. E. ; Fitzwilliam S. 30 W. and Wachusett Mountain. 
 S. 15 E. 
 
 Descending we continue our journey to Keene where 
 several days were spent in examining the various localities 
 of minerals. 
 
 The granite and mica slate of this town contain large 
 veins and beds of milk quartz which is used at the New 
 Hampshire glass works for the manufacture of cylinder 
 window glass which is of superior quality. 
 
 In the town of Swanzey near Keene, Dr. Smith guided 
 me to a locality where magnetic iron ore occurs in large 
 crystalline masses disseminated in a granite vein. 
 
 The ore occurs on a low hill and is contained in veins 
 of granite which traverse the gneiss rock in a direction 
 
KEENE. GILStTM. 121 
 
 N. 5 W., S. 5 E. The veins are 3 or 4 feet wide and 
 extend for the distance of 20 rods. 
 
 The masses of iron ore are imperfectly octahedral and 
 split into plates or folia. The locality furnishes interest- 
 ing specimens but it will not prove valuable as an iron 
 mine for it would cost too much to pick the ore prepara- 
 tory to smelting it. 
 
 West hill in Keene is the locality where the milk quartz 
 at present used for making glass is obtained. The quartz 
 occurs in veins which run north and south and dip to the 
 westward. They vary in width from 18 to 75 feet and 
 are favorably situated for quarrying, since the hill is ele- 
 vated about 150 feet above the plain and the slope is gen- 
 tle. Beyond the summit of the hill are many other beds 
 and veins of quartz which have not yet been wrought. 
 
 A few narrow beds of plumbago are found associated 
 with the quartz rock and mica slate and considerable 
 quantities have been obtained for commercial use but the 
 work has lately been abandoned. 
 
 Last year 20 or 30 tons of black lead were obtained 
 from this mine but it is extremely difficult now to extract 
 it from the rocks. 
 
 A bed of dark colored soapstone occurs near this place 
 and will prove useful for coarse work, but it is rather too 
 hard to compete with that which is found in Francestown. 
 
 The bed is 21 feet wide, and runs N. 30 W., S. 30 
 E. and dips to the S. E. 70. A quarry has been opened 
 for the extent of 50 feet in length and some tolerably good 
 stone has been obtained. 
 
 A very handsome light colored granite is extensively 
 employed for building in Keene, and is quarried in the 
 towns of Roxbury and Maryborough. 
 
 From Keene to Gilsum the granite abounds, and forms 
 beds and veins in the gneiss and rnica slate. The latter 
 rock occasionally passes, by imperceptible shades, into 
 
 15 
 
122 GILSUM 
 
 hornblende slate containing garnets. On the hill, the strata 
 dip to the S. S. E. Beyond this rock we come to a vari- 
 ety of mica slate stained strongly with the per oxide of 
 iron. 
 
 Near the house of Mr. Samuel Bingham, in Gilsum, 
 there is a huge block of coarse granite resting upon the 
 crushed edges of strata of mica slate. This remarkable 
 block of granite has received the name of the Vessel 
 Rock, and it appears to have been stranded upon the mica 
 slate ledge, where it was deposited by the diluvial current 
 which passed over the country in ancient times. 
 
 This huge block of granite was split asunder in the 
 winter of 1817 when an immense mass of it was separa- 
 ted probably by the action of frost. Some of the people 
 resident in the vicinity impute this fracture to the agency 
 of an earthquake, which is said to have taken place at the 
 time mentioned, 
 
 The principal block measures 46 feet in length, 24 feet 
 in width, and it is 26 feet high. The portion which was 
 split off in 1817, measures 33 feet in length and 10 feet in 
 width. The principal block contains 28,704 cubic feet, 
 and the lesser 3300 cubic feet, the whole mass including 
 32,004 cubic feet of stone, which, allowing 14 cubic feet 
 to the ton, will weigh 2286 tons. 
 
 Some suppose this huge rock was transported from 
 its parent ledge in Alstead, but since we found a large 
 bed of similar rock 135 feet to the north-westward of it, 
 there is great, probability of its having been transported 
 from that spot to its present situation by the impulse of 
 water, aided by the uplifting power of ice. The removal 
 of such an enormous mass of granite, even to this dis- 
 tance, is a matter of astonishment. 
 
 I have a drawing of the Vessel Rock which will ap- 
 pear with the illustrations hereafter. The present wood 
 

 (UlANlTi: IN GILSLM. 
 
 123 
 
 cut diagram will give a good idea of its present situation, 
 and of its original bed. 
 
 a. The erratic block of granite. 
 
 b. The original bed from whence it was probably broken off'. 
 
 The dark lines represent the strata of mica slate on which the erratic block rests. 
 
 Surry Mountain contains small beds of plumbago which 
 have been wrought for the manufacture of melting pots 
 for copper founders. The mine exists on the estate of 
 Mr. Livermore, and is owned by some person resident in 
 Boston. We were unable at the time of our visit to ex- 
 amine the locality in order to ascertain the extent of the 
 plumbago. 
 
 Having before described the outlines of the geology of 
 Chesterfield, and of Westmoreland, it will only be neces- 
 sary to refer to our longitudinal section for the description 
 of the remainder of this outline of a transverse section 
 from the Merrimack to the Connecticut River. 
 
 On attentively examining the map of the State, while 
 reading the remarks which have been thus far made re- 
 specting the outlines of our sections, it will be perceived 
 that they are so arranged as to give a very comprehensive 
 view of the principal rocks of the State. All that now 
 remains to be done is to fill up this rough sketch by more 
 minute explorations in order to represent the ground plan 
 of our work.'.'....;- 
 
 We have next to consider the Economical Geology, or 
 the application of the science to objects of practical utility. 
 
124 ECONOMICAL GEOLOGY. 
 
 I shall therefore select a few of the most prominent 
 subjects to which the attention of the citizens of the State 
 ought to be called, leaving other yet imperfectly ascer- 
 tained points for future discussion, when I hope to be able 
 to give a more detailed account respecting their value. 
 
ECONOMICAL GEOLOGY. 
 
 Under this head, I shall consider the nature and uses of 
 some of the most important minerals of the State, and 
 their application to the ordinary purposes of life, also the 
 nature of soils and whatever may be considered as among 
 the geological resources of the country. 
 
 It becomes every State to examine minutely into its 
 natural capabilities, in order to know what reliance may 
 be placed upon them for wealth and support, both in times 
 of peace, and when the commerce of the country is ob- 
 structed by war. Although it is the desire of every good 
 man that the difficulties of nations should be amicably 
 adjusted, still we know that so long as the bad passions 
 exist in the human heart, that the last resort of nations 
 will occasionally take place, and it is an acknowledged 
 and wise maxim, founded on experience, that in times of 
 peace we should prepare for war. 
 
 France and England, when compelled by foreign poli- 
 cy, turned their attention more immediately to their natural 
 resources. Their agriculture was invigorated, and their 
 arts improved. Geology and Chemistry taught them to 
 discover and use their own minerals. Iron, lead, cop- 
 per, sulphur and nitre, seemed to burst forth from their 
 own soil and supplied those articles which they could no 
 longer obtain from foreign countries. By the discovery 
 and free use of lime, Scotland, before comparatively bar- 
 ren, was rendered a wheat growing country. Chemistry 
 
126 ECONOMICAL GEOLOGY. 
 
 gave a quit claim to the verdant fields formerly over- 
 spread by thousands of acres of cotton fabrics, and per- 
 formed the bleaching operations by the aid of Chlorine, 
 within the doors of the factory. New arts have been 
 created by the aid of science, which calls upon the rocks 
 for a supply of the raw materials which she employs. 
 By chemical analysis of excrementitious matters for- 
 merly employed in the dye-house, we learn what those 
 peculiar principles and substances contain, which ren- 
 der them capable of effecting certain results, and their 
 salts were discovered and manufactured from inorganic 
 matter, thus rendering the arts an essential service by 
 effecting the operations in a neat and certain manner, 
 while agriculture, no longer deprived of any portion of 
 those substances which it requires for the fertilization of 
 the soil, receives a share of the benefit. Thus by the 
 study of the phosphates and arseniates, and the action of 
 ammomacal salts, several important arts have been perma- 
 nently improved. Indigo, a costly vegetable product, was 
 replaced by chemical skill, by another rich blue coloring 
 matter obtained by the action of potash upon refuse ani- 
 mal matter, and by the precipitation thereby of a salt of 
 iron upon the fabric, the coloring is effected. 
 
 No longer need we wholly depend upon a supply of the 
 costly wares from China, for our own felspars will produce 
 them, and our metallic oxides will give them their beautiful 
 colors. Venice has long ceased to be the glass-house of the 
 world, for wherever silex, potash, lime and lead are found, 
 we can manufacture every variety of that indispensable 
 material. We need not send to Damascus, or Toledo, or 
 to Sweden for the finest steel, for we can make it our- 
 selves from our own iron ores. The flanks of Mount Etna 
 may still supply us with sulphur, for nature can produce 
 it at a cheaper rate than it can be manufactured by art 
 
ECONOMICAL GEOLOGY. 
 
 127 
 
 from our own sulphurets ; but in case we should ever be 
 thrown upon our own resources, it would then be obtained 
 from the iron and copper pyrites which occur in the 
 rocks of New-Hampshire and Vermont, and it may be use- 
 ful to keep in view all available localities where such sub- 
 stances abound. India now supplies us with nitre at a 
 lower price than we can make it from our own soils ; but 
 in any emergency millions of tons of that substance, so 
 essential in the art of war, may be produced from the soil 
 of each State. 
 
 Many veins of galena, now thought to be too limited in 
 extent for the profitable manufacture of lead, would, in 
 time of need, be deemed of incalculable value. Experi- 
 ence has clearly proved that when iron is in great demand, 
 many comparatively limited deposits of bog iron ore have 
 proved to be of great value to the country. 
 
 At present we must found all our estimates of the value 
 of minerals, on the presumption that peace will be main- 
 tained, and that the prices of manufactured articles will 
 remain nearly as they are at present, regulated by the 
 natural and steady demands of the country, and without 
 the aid of any higher duties on the imported articles than 
 at present exist. 
 
 Lime. 
 
 Among the most useful substances I should consider 
 lime, which may be regarded as one of the most valuable 
 minerals, since immense quantities of it are required for 
 our daily wants in agriculture and the arts. Living at an 
 epoch when this valuable substance is so universally known, 
 we do not fully appreciate its immense importance to man- 
 kind, and it is necessary for us to go back into the wilder- 
 
128 
 
 LIME. 
 
 ness, and there to contemplate the log-huts and rude mud- 
 cabins, in order to place a due estimate on the value of 
 lime, to which we owe our stately and permanent edifices, 
 and the luxury of tight, warm, and comfortable dwellings. 
 Agriculture and the chemical arts, as before suggested, owe 
 many of their permanent improvements to the discovery 
 of this invaluable substance. Many persons now living 
 can remember when stone lime was almost unknown in 
 this country, and will recollect that we formerly depended 
 upon the limited supply which was obtained by the burn- 
 ing of oyster shells, and at that time the article was so ex- 
 pensive, that it was with difficulty obtained by the poorer 
 classes of society. A virgin soil required but little skill 
 for its cultivation, and the modern system of composting 
 and top-dressing was unknown. Now we make extensive 
 use of calcareous matter in order to improve certain soils, 
 both directly and indirectly, and the chemical influence of 
 lime is more fully understood, and will be hereafter prop- 
 erly applied. 
 
 Hydraulic cement was originally imported from Europe,, 
 but by chemical means we are at present enabled to man- 
 ufacture it at pleasure from our common lime and fine al- 
 luvial clays. 
 
 Bleaching powder, formerly imported exclusively from 
 the manufactories of Europe, is now made from our own 
 lime, manganese, and salt, by simple chemical means, and 
 our cotton and paper-mills are enabled to compete with 
 transatlantic manufactories. 
 
 To trace in succession the various links by which the 
 arts are connected, and to show their mutual dependance, 
 and how the advance of one affects the others, would form 
 a voluminous work, which would extend beyond our pres- 
 ent limits. Enough has been already set forth to excite 
 any reflecting mind to pursue the subject in its various 
 ramifications, so as to discover other apposite illustrations. 
 
LIMESTONES. 129 
 
 Limestones. 
 
 Among the inexhaustible limestone beds of New-Hamp- 
 shire, we may rank those of Haverhill and Lisbon. The 
 former is situated, as described in a former section, near the 
 base of Black Mountain, in the town of Haverhill, about 
 6 miles north-east from the village. 
 
 This bed of limestone is of incalculable importance to 
 the people of New-Hampshire, and will save an immense 
 sum from expenditure for foreign lime. The present 
 known limits of the bed are evidently far short of its real 
 extent, but enough is already exposed to furnish a constant 
 supply of lime for ages. The whole width cannot be 
 less than 400 feet, and its length, as at present seen, is 800 
 feet ; but it reaches in a linear direction to an unknown 
 extent, such wide beds rarely narrowing, when traced even 
 for the distance of miles. The natural drainage is such 
 that it is easy to excavate the rock to the depth of 25 or 
 30 feet without any aid from pumps or syphons, so that the 
 situation in this respect is favorable for working. 
 
 The country around is thickly wooded, so that an un- 
 limited supply of fuel is readily commanded. Mr. Gan- 
 nett, the present proprietor of the limestone, owns 900 
 acres of woodland on the hill-side adjacent to the quar- 
 ries, and he estimates the cost of wood fuel only at 50 cts. 
 per cord. His kilns were badly constructed, and then re- 
 quired from 18 to 20 cords of wood to burn a kiln of 60 
 tierces of lime; but when he builds new kilns, after the 
 plan described to him, he will require but 8 or 10 cords of 
 wood to produce the same result. He makes two different 
 kinds of lime, the first quality selling at $1 50 per tierce, 
 the second at $1 25. Each tierce contains 6 bushels of 
 lime. 
 
 When it is considered that the principal expense of ma- 
 king lime consists in the price of fuel, and that ,wood costs 
 
 16 
 
130 LIMESTONES. 
 
 $3 per cord in Thomaston, in Maine, and f 5 per cord in 
 Smithfield, Rhode Island, it will be perceived that the 
 business of making lime at Haverhill, even at the low price 
 above stated, cannot fail to be profitable, and that great ad- 
 vantages will accrue to the purchaser in the cheapness of the 
 article. Heretofore the lime used upon the borders of the 
 Connecticut River, in New Hampshire, was brought ex- 
 clusively from Vermont, and immense sums of money 
 must have been expended in its purchase. So long as lime 
 could be obtained at a lower price from the Vermont 
 kilns, it was natural to depend upon them; but now Ha- 
 verhill lime is destined to supply that region. 
 
 Chemical analysis of the 1st quality Haverhill Limestone. 
 
 This limestone is granular, crystalline, and white, hav- 
 ing no visible foreign matter mixed with it. 
 
 100 grains submitted to chemical analysis yielded 
 Carbonate of Lime, 99.3 
 
 Mica and Quartz, 0.5 
 
 Carbonate of Manganese, 0.2 
 
 100.0 
 or it contains 55.729 per cent of pure lime, by weight. 
 
 The 2d quality limestone contains bluish colored streaks, 
 like that from Thomaston, in Maine, and is granular or 
 crystalline, but more solid than the 1st quality rock. 
 100 grains analyzed yielded 
 
 Carbonate of Lime, 90.66 
 
 Mica and Silex, 3.80 
 
 Carbonates of Iron & Manganese, 5.54 
 
 100.00 
 or it contains 51.03 per cent, of lime. 
 
LIME AT LISBON. 131 
 
 Lime of Lisbon. 
 
 Limestone likewise abounds in the town of Lisbon, near 
 the S. W. extremity of Mink Pond, and is quarried and 
 burnt for lime in several places. 
 
 The principal quarries which are wrought belong to 
 Messrs. Orren Bronson, Thomas Priest, David Priest, and 
 Uriah Oakes. The limestone is a crystalline or coarse 
 granular variety, marked with blue and grey stripes, indi- 
 cating the original lines of stratification. It is occasionally 
 mixed with particles of mica, and a little quartz. The 
 bed as formerly described, is contained between strata of 
 mica slate, and pursues a N. E. and S. W. direction with 
 the line of strike of the strata. 
 
 Mr. Thomas Priest's quarry has been most extensively 
 wrought, and the excavation measures 300 feet in length. 
 The breadth of the bed is 13 feet. Drainage is easily 
 practicable to the depth of more than 60 feet. 
 
 Fair specimens of this limestone were taken for chemi- 
 cal analysis and its composition is as follows. 
 
 100 grains of this stone analyzed in my laboratory by 
 M. B. Williams, yielded 
 
 Carbonate of lime, 90.8 
 
 Mica and quartz, 8.2 
 
 Carbonate of iron and manganese, 1.0 
 
 100.0 
 or it contains 51.11 percent, of lime. 
 
 David Priest's quarry is situated 1 1-2 miles north- 
 eastward from the one above mentioned. 
 
 A specimen of this rock analyzed in my laboratoty by 
 J. D. Whitney, Jr. yielded in 100 grs. 
 
 Carbonate of lime, 81.6 
 
 Mica and quartz, 15.6 
 
 Carbonate of iron and manganese, 2.8 
 
 100.0 
 It contains 45.59 per cent of lime. 
 
. 
 
 132 LIMESTONE NEAR FRANCONIA. 
 
 The lime is in good repute and is employed to some ex- 
 tent in the vicinity. Mr. Ward Priest says he has used it 
 very successfully in agriculture as a top-dressing. 
 
 I obtained at the kiln the following statistical informa- 
 tion from Mr. Priest. 
 
 He burns from four to six kilns of lime per annum^ 
 when not engaged in his farming operations. The kiln 
 holds about 35 tierces of lime. Each tierce holds 6 bash- 
 els. One which I measured was 2 feet 4 inches high, ; 1 
 foot 9 inches head diameter ; bilges to 1 foot 10 inches. 
 Cost the casks 42 cts each. 
 
 The kiln is egg-shaped and measures 12 feet 3 inches 
 in height, 4 feet diameter at the top, 6 feet 4 inches in 
 diameter at the boshes (a little below the centre.) Arch 
 for fuel, 2 feet high. The walls of the kiln are 2 feet 
 thick, and are made of mica slate lined with common 
 bricks. It cost $150. 
 
 He says that the common bricks soon glaze over on the 
 surface, and withstand the heat sufficiently well. Four 
 days and three nights are required for burning a kiln of 
 lime, and 10 cords of wood are consumed in the operation. 
 From two to three men are employed. The cost of wood 
 cut, split and delivered at the kiln is $1 per cord. The 
 lime sells for $2 per tierce at the kiln. 
 
 Limestone near Franconia. 
 
 Mr. Oakes' quarry is situated 2 miles west from Fran- 
 conia furnace, and is wrought to some extent for lime. 
 This kiln is built like the one before described, but is of 
 larger dimensions, containing 100 tierces of lime. It is 
 built of the common rocks found in the vicinity, and is 
 lined with mica slate. The walls are from two to three 
 

 LIMESTONE NEAR FBANCONIA. 133 
 
 feet in thickness, and the lining is 1 foot thick. The cost 
 of this kiln was $100. 
 
 He sells his lime for $1.50 per tierce, without the cask, 
 and for $2 when packed in casks. 
 
 Wood cut and delivered at the kiln costs $1 per cord. 
 Fifteen cords of wood are required to burn a kiln of lime. 
 Burning requires four days and three nights. Three men 
 are employed in attendance on the kiln. 
 
 Estimate of cost and profits on 1 kiln of Lime. 
 
 Cost of quarrying and hauling to kiln, $41 
 
 Breaking and filling in, 6 
 
 Filling out, 10 
 
 15 cords of wood, 15 
 
 Labor, 7 
 
 100 casks at 42 cts. 43 
 
 Interest and incidental expenses, say 5 
 
 Cost, $146 
 
 100 casks of lime sell for $200 
 
 Profit on 1 kiln of lime, $54 
 
 By chemical analysis of a specimen of this limestone, 
 Mr. Williams obtained in 100 grains, 
 
 Carbonate of lime, 78 
 
 Silica and mica, 20 
 
 Carbonate of iron, 2 
 
 100 
 
 Hence it contains 43.9 per cent, of lime. 
 
 This limestone is situated favorably for supplying the 
 Franconia furnace with a flux to be used in smelting their 
 iron ores, and I believe they obtain it for that purpose. 
 
 Mr. Oakes has employed his lime successfully in agri- 
 culture as a top-dressing in the proportion of one tierce to 
 
134 LIMESTONE OF LYME. 
 
 the acre. This year he has mixed it with with compost 
 manure and applied it to his potato crop, which, he says, 
 appears unusually flourishing. 
 
 Limestone of Lyme. 
 
 Chemical analysis of specimens of limestone from the 
 town of Lyme were also made by my pupils during the 
 winter, but we have not yet obtained information respect- 
 ing the quarries and the manufacture of the lime. The 
 localities will be visited during the next season, and the 
 deficient information will be obtained. Meanwhile we 
 present the analyses. 
 
 The light colored crystalline limestone of Lyme yielded 
 in 100 grains, 
 
 Carbonate of lime, 71.70 
 
 Siliceous matter, 25 70 
 
 Carbonate of iron and manganese, 2.60 
 Carbonate of magnesia traces, 
 
 100.00 
 
 It contains 40.35 per cent, of lime. 
 
 Analysis of dark colored limestone from Lyme. 100 
 grains, yield. 
 
 Carbonate of lime, 83.6 
 
 Silica and mica, 15.0 
 
 Carbon, 0.2 
 
 Carbonate of iron, 1.2 
 
 100.0 
 
 It contains 47.04 per cent, of lime. 
 
 A poorer variety of limestone occurs in Claremont, but 
 it is only useful for agricultural purposes, and must be 
 burnt at a very carefully regulated red heat, otherwise it 
 will form a slag. 
 
BURNING OF LIME. 135 
 
 Remarks on theburning of Lime. 
 
 Prom the statistical accounts which I have been able to 
 collect respecting the burning of lime, it will appear that 
 large kilns are much more profitable than small ones, since 
 a smaller amount of fuel is required and there is less waste 
 of heat. The kilns which are used in Smithfield, R. I., 
 hold 500 casks of lime each, and they are by far the best 
 that I have seen in operation, 
 
 When the demand for lime will justify the attempt, I 
 should strenuously advise the lime burner to construct his 
 kilns after that model, whereby lime may be produced in 
 large quantities and at a less cost. 
 
 In my Report on the Geology and Agriculture of Rhode 
 Island, will be seen the statistics of the business, and we 
 have only to change a few items, particularly that of the 
 price of wood and of the rock, and then the same statis- 
 tics will apply to the cost of making lime in New Hamp- 
 shire. The Haverhill lime quarry will doubtless require a 
 kiln of the largest class, for when the lime becomes known 
 it will be sought for by people resident in all the surround- 
 ing country where limestones have not been found. 
 
 Since this Report went to press, I have been informed 
 by His Excellency Governor Page, that Mr. Gannett has 
 erected new kilns after the model which I described to 
 him, but of smaller dimensions, and that he is now ac- 
 tively engaged in burning lime, which meets with a ready 
 market and is in high repute. It is brought to within 20 
 miles of Concord by teams. 
 
 I have also been informed that the depth of the spring, 
 where the limestone was first discovered, was only three 
 feet but the excavation extended horizontally to the dis- 
 tance mentioned in another section of this Report. 
 
136 IRON ORES. 
 
 Iron Ores. 
 
 Iron holds the first rank among the useful metals, and 
 is essential to civilized man, for most of the arts are de- 
 pendant upon it for the supply of instruments which are 
 absolutely necessary for their prosecution. 
 
 Civilized man alone makes use of iron, and to that metal 
 he in a great degree owes his superiority over the savage. 
 Science and skill in the arts, and a fixed abode, are essen- 
 tial to its manufacture, and therefore it never has been re- 
 duced from its ores by any but civilized people. 
 
 Its magnetic properties guided the skilful navigator 
 across the ocean, and enabled European civilization to ex- 
 tend itself to this continent. Arms manufactured from it 
 enabled the first settlers to withstand the inroads of bar- 
 barians, while the more peaceful implements, the axe and 
 the plough, constructed also of this metal, enabled the col- 
 onists to subdue the forest and to cultivate the soil. 
 
 Steel is but a modification of iron, prepared by the in- 
 troduction of a small proportion of carbon of charcoal. 
 Cast iron is a coarser combination of iron with carbon, of- 
 ten accompanied also by some impurities, such as the ba- 
 ses of silex, alumina, and occasionally a little phosphorus 
 or sulphur. 
 
 Wrought or bar iron is nearly free from these impurities, 
 and is in a great measure deprived of its carbon by the 
 processes of manufacture. 
 
 The ores of iron which can be profitably manufactured 
 are the oxides of the metal. 
 
 Those usually employed are the magnetic iron ore, con- 
 sisting of a combination of the prot-oxide of iron with the 
 per-oxide, in the proportions of 
 
 Prot-oxide of iron, 31 ) containing oxygen = 28.215 
 Per-oxide of iron, 69 > Iron 71.784 
 
 The ores of this class are black, give a black powder 
 
IRON ORES. 137 
 
 when pulverized, which is strongly attracted by the mag- 
 net. 
 
 Its specific gravity varies from 4.74 to 5.09, according 
 to its purity and compactness. 
 
 It occurs crystallized in the form of the primary octa- 
 hedron, and in its secondary form the rhombic dodeca- 
 hedron : also in laminae, and in grains more or less roun- 
 ded, and in compact masses. 
 
 The superficial portions of a vein of magnetic iron ore 
 always possess strong polarity, in directions coinciding 
 with the magnetic meridian of the place. This kind of 
 iron is very abundant in New Hampshire, and in many 
 places may be economically wrought for iron. 
 
 The Franconia Works make use of the granular mag- 
 netic iron ore exclusively, and a very tough and excellent 
 iron is made from it. 
 
 The average product of cast iron is 60 per cent, on the 
 ore smelted, but the pure ore contains 69.04 per cent, of 
 iron, as will be seen by the following analysis : 
 
 100 grains of the granular magnetic iron ore of Lisbon 
 iron mine contain 
 
 Prot and per-oxide of iron, 96.20 
 
 Silica, 2.30 
 
 Titanic acid. 1.50 
 
 100.00 
 
 96.20 per cent, of the above oxides contain 69.04 per 
 cent, of metallic iron. 
 
 Capt. Putnam, the agent of the Franconia Iron Works, 
 kindly furnished me with all the statistical information 
 which was desired. 
 
 The New Hampshire Iron Manufacturing Company was 
 incorporated in June, 1805, when a forge was erected and 
 bar iron was made. 
 
 In 1811 a blast furnace was erected, which has been 
 
 17 
 
138 IRON ORES. 
 
 kept in operation since that time, and produces from 250 
 to 500 tons of excellent cast iron per annum. This is 
 partly sold in the form of castings, and a part is converted 
 into bar iron in the forges. 
 
 From 100 to 140 tons of bar iron are made per annum. 
 The furnace is kept in blast from 16 to 26 weeks at a 
 time. 
 
 The stack of the furnace was built of granite, and it is 
 lined with mica slate, which is found in the vicinity. 
 The hearth-stones are made of Landaff quartz rock. 
 From two to three hundred thousand bushels of char- 
 coal are consumed per annum. 
 
 Hard-wood coal costs $4 00 per 100 bushels. 
 Spruce 2 50 " " " 
 
 Limestone used for flux costs $1 per ton. 
 The charge for the furnace, when in full blast, consists 
 of 
 
 15 bushels of charcoal, 
 5 boxes (56 Ibs. each) iron ore. 
 1 box of limestone = 12 1-2 per cent. 
 Average product, 2 1-2 tons of pig iron and castings per 
 
 diem. 
 
 At the commencement of the blast 1 1-2 tons only are 
 
 produced. 
 
 The ore delivered at the works costs $6 per ton, viz. 
 Mining, $5 00 per ton. 
 
 Hauling to bank, 50 " 
 
 Breaking, 50 " 
 
 10 miners are employed at $15 per month by the con- 
 tractor. 
 
 Price of pig iron, 2 cts. per lb., castings, 5 cts. per lb., 
 bar iron, 5 1-2 cts. per lb. 
 
 The following statistical account of a blast was han- 
 ded to me by the agent : 
 
139 
 
 O 
 
 00 
 
 CO 
 GO 
 
 O 
 
 tf 
 H 
 E 
 S 
 p 
 m 
 
 Q 
 
 a 
 
 QQ 
 
 H 
 
 H 
 
 P 
 fa 
 
 CQ 
 
 Q 
 
 
 iCQ^e^GOOOGOt^ 
 
 1 5}f 
 
 cs rj. ri 
 
 QJ-J Q)G^ 
 
 !!l-f 
 
 O 
 
 I 
 
 2 
 1 
 
 O O 
 
 il 
 
 OJ CO -J- 
 
 ^ & S 
 
 i i _o O 
 
 " 
 
140 IRON ORES. 
 
 The per-oxide of iron presents itself in several forms, 
 and abounds in New Hampshire. When finely pulverized, 
 this kind of ore gives a red powder, like iron rust, but 
 when crystallized it is often resplendent like a polished 
 metal ; hence the name of a crystallized variety, specular 
 iron ore, comes from its mirror-like brilliancy. Among 
 the important localities of this kind of ore, I would men- 
 tion that of Piermont, which has been described in another 
 part of the Report. 
 
 The ore is the micaceous specular oxide of iron. 
 
 Specimens of this ore were analyzed in my laboratory, 
 under my directions, and the following results were ob- 
 tained. 
 
 A specimen of the purest ore yielded in 100 grains, 
 Per oxide of iron, 93.5 
 
 Titanic acid, 3.8 
 
 Silica, 2.7 
 
 100.0 
 
 From which it will appear that the ore contains 64.8 
 per cent, of pure metallic iron. 
 
 An average specimen of the ore yielded in 100 grains, 
 Per oxide of iron, 75.0 
 
 Titanic acid, 3.8 
 
 Silica (quartz) 18.2 
 
 100.0 
 
 It contains 54.07 per cent, of metallic iron, 
 It is evident from what has been heretofore stated as to 
 the extent of the Piermont ore, and from the above anal- 
 ysis, that profitable iron works may be established at that 
 place. 
 
 The iron ore of Bartlett which occurs on Baldface 
 Mountain, near the line of Jackson, has been described in 
 a former section. 
 
IRON ORES. 141 
 
 I shall here state its composition, and call public 
 attention to its value. The ore consists of a mixture 
 the per-oxide and the prot-oxide of iron, the former 
 largely predominating so as to give to the pulverized ore 
 a deep red color. It is but slightly magnetic, owing to 
 the larger proportion of the per oxide. 
 
 This ore is also mixed with a minute proportion of 
 oxide of manganese, which will have a favorable influ- 
 ence in the conversion of the iron into steel, for the oxide 
 of manganese, giving out a portion of its oxygen, tends 
 to reduce the proportion of carbon which enters into the 
 composition of cast iron, so as to bring the iron into the 
 condition of steel. The celebrated Swedish chemist, 
 Berzelius, is of opinion that manganese exerts a very fa- 
 vorable influence in this manner, and from observation, it 
 is well known that such is the result. 
 
 The Bartlett iron ore was analyzed by me four years ago, 
 and it was proposed then to erect a blast furnace for the 
 manufacture of iron, but embarrassments in the commerce 
 of the country prevented any investment of capital in the 
 business at that time. I would now again call public 
 attention to the immense veins of iron ore which exist in 
 that town, for I am satisfied that few localities in New 
 England can compete with that locality in the abundance 
 of the ore and cheapness of fuel. 
 
 The ore contains from 48 to 50 per cent, of pure iron, 
 on the average, as ascertained by several analyses, and 
 from 1 to 5 per cent, of manganese. 
 
 100 grains of the ore was analyzed in my laboratory, 
 by Mr. Williams, who obtained, 
 
 Per oxide of iron, 69.4 
 
 Quartz and felspar, 25.2 
 
 Oxide of manganese, 2.7 
 
 69.4 of per oxide contains 48.117 per cent, of metallic 
 iron. 
 
142 COPPER ORES. 
 
 Another specimen yielded, 
 
 Felspar and quartz, 21.40 
 
 Alumina, 0.15 
 
 Manganese, 1.20 
 
 Per-oxide and prot-oxide > W<T>K 
 
 /. . , j-rf / ( ( .uO 
 
 of iron by difference, > 
 
 100.00 
 or 53 per cent, of metallic iron. 
 
 We may therefore calculate upon at least 48 per cent, 
 of cast iron as the result of the smelting operations of a 
 blast furnace. 
 
 COPPER ORES rank next to those of iron in economical 
 value, and it is very desirable to find veins of sufficient 
 magnitude to warrant the erection of a copper furnace. 
 
 Thus far we have ascertained the existence of a great 
 number of small veins, and a few of considerable mag- 
 nitude. 
 
 The copper ores of New Hampshire, which have been 
 found are the sulphurets of copper and iron, or copper 
 pyrites. 
 
 In Franconia, several small veins of a rich ore of this 
 kind occur on. the estate of Mr. Horace Brooks, but they 
 are not wide enough to warrant the erection of works for 
 their reduction. 
 
 A specimen of this ore, analyzed in my laboratory by 
 M. B. Williams, yielded in 100 grains, 
 
 Deut-oxide of Copper, = 35.8 = Copper, 28,568 
 Per-oxide of Iron, 46.0 Iron, 31.863 
 
 Silica, 2.0 2.000 
 
 Sulphur, 35.0 35.000 
 
 97.431 
 
COPPER ORES. 143 
 
 In the town of Unity, on the estate of Mr. J. Neal, 
 there is a vein of copper and iron pyrites of considerable 
 magnitude. This vein will be found described in our 
 North and South sectional line. 
 
 The ore on analysis was found to yield, 
 
 Sulphur, 32.575 
 
 Copper, 6.345 
 
 Iron, 42.780 
 
 Titaniferous Iron, 18.300 
 
 100.000 
 
 Copper and Zinc ores of Warren. 
 
 In the western part of the town of Warren, I examined 
 the copper mines, on the Davis farm, belonging to Major 
 George Little of Littleton. 
 
 The ore is a vein included in mica slate rocks, and 
 consists of crystallized tremolite, mixed with small mas- 
 ses of copper pyrites, and occasionally with blende. 
 
 The principal vein is at least 20 feet wide, but only one 
 wall of the vein is disclosed. Small veins of clear copper 
 pyrites also run along the sides of the principal vein, be- 
 tween it and the wall rock. 
 
 The tremolite is extremely fragile, and may be easily 
 separated from the ore by the stamping mill and washing 
 table, so that all the pure copper ore may be obtained 
 separately. 
 
 The first specimens which were obtained yielded but 6 
 per cent, of copper in the mass, but on working deeper 
 into the vein, the ore became richer and yields 12 per cent, 
 and by washing the ore, we may obtain a pure copper 
 pyrites which yields 27 per cent, of copper. 
 
144 COPPER AND ZINC IN WARREN. 
 
 An average specimen of the last ore which was raised 
 from the mine yielded on analysis, 
 
 Tremolite, 55.30 
 
 Iron, 15.72 
 
 Copper, 11.97 
 
 Sulphur and loss, 17.01 
 
 100.00 
 
 The mine may be drained easily to the depth of 114 
 feet without the aid of pumps, provided a drain be cut for 
 the distance of 342 paces down the side of the hill to the 
 brook. 
 
 This vein is worthy of a careful exploration which will 
 soon be made by sinking a shaft into it. On the opposite 
 side of the road, near the copper mine, occurs a large vein 
 of black blende or sulphuret of zinc associated with ga- 
 lena and copper pyrites. This vein is irregular and varies 
 in width from one to five feet. It dips to the N. E. at an 
 angle of 34 and runs N. W. and S. E. The vein is in- 
 cluded in mica slate, and runs nearly in a line with the 
 strata. 
 
 On chemical analysis, the dark color of the zinc ore 
 was found to be due to the presence of oxide of iron. It 
 is practicable to work this ore for zinc, and it will yield 
 by the process of distillation, after the English method, 
 30 per cent, of zinc, which is about half the real amount 
 which it contains. 
 
 The lead ore was analyzed, and it was found to contain 
 a very minute proportion of silver, but not sufficient to 
 warrant the expense of extracting it in a large way. It 
 contains 83.47 per cent, of lead and 15 per cent of sulphur. 
 
 One specimen yielded one thousandth part of silver, 
 but in others there was no trace of its presence, so that no 
 estimate can be made of the silver contained in the mine, 
 since its distribution is irregular. 
 
LEAD AND ZINC ORES. 145 
 
 In working the zinc ore the non-volatile metals such as 
 copper, lead and iron will remain behind in the slag which 
 may be subsequently separated if worth the expense. 
 
 Lead ore of Haverhill. 
 
 The lead ore of Haverhill found by Mr. Willmot was 
 examined for silver, but on analysis of 200 grains of the 
 ore, no trace/of that metal was discovered. The ore being 
 a pure galena will contain 
 
 Lead 85 
 
 Sulphur 15 
 
 100 
 
 Zinc and Lead ores of Eaton. 
 
 In the town of Eaton, near Snell's pond, occurs an \m- 
 portant vein of zinc and lead ores. The dimensions of 
 this vein, as before stated, are sufficiently great to warrant 
 mining operations, since a vein 6 feet wide affords ample 
 room for the miners. Although an attempt was made about 
 twelve years since to work this mine for lead, no attention 
 was paid to the zinc ore which is vastly more abundant 
 and affords a more reasonable hope of reward. At that 
 time no person in this country knew how to manage the 
 sulphuret of zinc, but now it can be done, and zinc has 
 come into such general demand as to warrant the belief 
 that a valuable supply of that metal will ere long be ob- 
 tained from this mine. 
 
 Results of a chemical analysis of 100 grains of the 
 yellow brown blende or zinc ore of Eaton. 
 
 18 
 
146 TIN ORE OF JACKSON. 
 
 Sulphur, 33.22 
 
 Zinc, 63.62 
 
 Iron, 3.10 
 
 Cadmium and loss, 06 
 
 100.00 
 
 The lead ore is but 8 inches wide, so far as it can be 
 seen, but the zinc ore is between 5 and 6 feet in the clear. 
 
 In working this mine, the lead may be thrown aside and 
 can be smelted when a sufficient supply is obtained. It 
 will yield, according to my analysis, 1 pound of silver to 
 one thousand pounds of the ore. If the lead is converted 
 into litharge it may be subsequently reduced to metallic 
 lead in the furnace. The ore contains 85 and will yield 
 79 per cent, of lead. 
 
 Tin ore of Jackson. 
 
 On the estate of Mr. Eastman of Jackson, I discovered 
 a large mass of tin ore which was blasted out while ob- 
 taining specimens of the arsenical pyrites which occurs on 
 that estate. 
 
 The ore consists of the massive, crystallized and gran- 
 ular oxide of tin, and is associated with the arsenical iron, 
 but is not mixed with it. Having reduced a few of the 
 crystals to metallic tin while in the town of Jackson, I 
 subsequently made a minute chemical analysis, and several 
 assays of the ore in mass, and obtained, after pulverizing 
 and washing, from 30 to 50 per cent, of tin. 
 
 By assay in a brasqued crucible I obtained from 57 grs. 
 of the washed and roasted ore 22 grains of pure metallic 
 tin, which would be equal to 37 per cent, of tin in the ore. 
 
 By washing the pulverized ore I found that on an aver- 
 
TIN ORES IN JACKSON. 147 
 
 age, 53 per cent, remained, which was composed of frag- 
 ments and grains of oxide of tin. The pure crystallized 
 oxide of tin, according to Beudant, consists of 
 
 Tin, 76.67 
 
 Oxygen, 21.33 
 
 100.0 
 
 In order to make a comparison between the crystals of 
 oxide of tin from Jackson, and those from other localities, 
 I requested Mr. J. E. Teschemacher, who was very famil- 
 iar with all the Cornish varieties, to take some of ours and 
 to measure them by the Reflecting Geometer. He polite- 
 ly acceded to my wishes, and presents the following ob- 
 servations. 
 
 Boston, Dec. 4, 1840. 
 DEAR SIR: 
 
 Below you will find a drawing, much enlarged, of the 
 form of most of the crystals in the specimens of tin ore 
 discovered by you in New Hampshire, which I have ex- 
 amined. The planes are not sufficiently free from striae 
 to perm it the use of the reflecting Goniometer in ascertain- 
 ing the angles ; the measurements are therefore those of 
 Phillips, of the accuracy of which I entertain no doubt. 
 The form is that of a macle of the square prism, with a 
 pyramidal summit, arising from modifications of an obtuse 
 octahedron with a square base, the primary form of tin ox- 
 ide ; P. and P. the only remains of this primary. The fig- 
 ure represents a macle of only two crystals ; the originals 
 are composed of several united in the same way. This is, 
 I believe, the most common of the crystalline forms in the 
 tin deposits of other countries, and appears to me a reason 
 for supposing the deposit in New Hampshire to be large, 
 which I should have doubted had the crystalline forms 
 
148 
 
 TIN ORES IN JACKSON. 
 
 been those of rare occurrence elsewhere. I return the best 
 crystals I could select from the specimens you were so 
 kind as to give me. Your's sincerely, 
 
 J. E. TESCHEMACHER. 
 Dr. C. T. JACKSON, Boston. 
 
 Ponj loOd. 45m. / on e 133d. 32m. n on e 135d. Planes e usually striated. 
 
 From the foregoing remarks it will appear that we have 
 satisfactorily proved the existence of an ore of tin in New 
 Hampshire, and I believe that, although some minute 
 grains have been seen on the garnet rock of Haddam> in 
 Connecticut, that this may be considered the first proper 
 tin ore that has yet been found in which there was a nota- 
 ble proportion of tin. 
 
 This should stimulate to renewed search for other veins 
 of this valuable ore which I doubt not will be found in 
 workable quantities in some parts of the State when more 
 eyes are made familiar with the appearance of an ore 
 which has not the least semblance to a metal, and hence 
 has probably been heretofore overlooked by those not con- 
 versant with minerals. 
 
 Thus far the small tin vein of Jackson must be looked 
 upon only as a valuable guide, for it does not contain an 
 adequate quantity of the ore for supplying a furnace. 
 
 By exploring the arsenic veins more tin ore may yet be 
 found, and the arsenic ore will repay the expense or labor 
 of extracting it, since it will sell for $40 per ton in chem- 
 
GRANULAR QUARTZ. 149 
 
 ical works, where it is used for the manufacture of arsen- 
 iate of potash. 
 
 The arsenic ore of Jackson is found on the estate of 
 Mr. Eastman, and is a vein varying from 1 to 8 inches in 
 width, and is of unknown but great length. 
 
 This ore, on chemical analysis, yields 60 per cent of 
 arsenic, 38 per cent of iron, and a small proportion of sul- 
 phur. 
 
 On distillation, it gives up more than half its arsenic, 
 the remainder being combined with the iron so as not to 
 volalatize. I obtained readily by distilling the ore in an 
 earthern retort, 35 per cent of brilliant crystals of pure 
 metallic arsenic, and some octahedral crystals of sulphu- 
 ret of arsenic in the states of orpiment and realgar, those 
 sulphurets crystalizing farther down the neck of the re- 
 tort, they being more volatile than metallic arsenic. 
 
 The arsenic ore is very heavy, and occupies so little 
 bulk in proportion to its weight, that it may be transport- 
 ed to market at a sufficiently low rate. 
 
 It will prove valuable as an ore from which pure metal- 
 lic arsenic may be obtained for use in the arts, especially 
 in the manufacture of shot, arsenic being always mixed 
 with the lead to make it granulate when poured through 
 the seives in the shot towers. 
 
 Granular Quartz. 
 
 This mineral abounds in various parts of New Hamp- 
 shire, and is at present wrought only in the town of Uni- 
 ty, by Daniel M'Clure. (See page 69 of this Report.) 
 During the past year Mr. M'Clure ground, bolted and sold 
 35 tons of his granular quartz to the sand-paper works of 
 Rockingham, Vt. 
 
150 GRANULAR 
 
 He prepares three sizes by means of a bolting machine, 
 which sizes correspond to sand papers Nos. 1, 2 and 3. 
 Specimens of this mineral thus prepared have been ob- 
 tained for the State cabinet. 
 
 A fine polishing powder, equal to emery for all ordina- 
 ry uses in polishing metals, &c., is also put up in papers 
 of 1 pound each, which packages sell for 12 cents. 
 
 The same kind of granular quartz which serves for the 
 manufacture of sand paper will also answer for the man- 
 ufacture of rifles for sharpening scythes. It is also a good 
 substance for mixing with paint in order to encrust the 
 pillars of public buildings so as to prevent injury from the 
 knives of idlers. 
 
 The finest powdered quartz has also been successfully 
 mixed with white lead in large quantities, and it is said 
 to answer the purpose better than barytes. 
 
 I have used Mr. M'Clure's granular quartz for mix- 
 ing with fine clay in the manufacture of crucibles and 
 muffles, which are employed in my laboratory, and find it 
 to be of excellent quality for that purpose. 
 
 It may also be used by dentists who require an addition 
 of quartz for the formation of mineral teeth from felspar. 
 It will also make an excellent body for fire brick when 
 mixed with refractory clay. Where a perfectly white 
 stucco or plastering is wanted for ceilings it is an excel- 
 lent article for mixing with the lime in the place of sand. 
 
 It has a very sharp grit, and is one of the best materi- 
 als for sawing and grinding marble. 
 
 When fused with a large proportion of potash or soda, 
 it forms a glass soluble in hot water, which, if spread up- 
 on wood work will effectually prevent its taking fire. 
 
 The refuse granular quartz is also used in the manufac- 
 ture of glass. The locality mentioned on 67th page of 
 this Report, is only 20 miles from the Keene glass works, 
 and will doubtless be carried there for the manufacture of 
 
MICA. 
 
 151 
 
 glass, and the locality will yield an inexhaustible supply. 
 I have mentioned some of the various uses for which 
 this mineral may be employed. It is not improbable 
 there may be numerous other arts in which it may be 
 used advantageously. It must be remembered that only 
 a few years have passed since granular quartz was ranked 
 among the useless minerals, and we may be led to a more 
 full belief in the principle that " nothing is made in vain" 
 although we may not at the moment discover how they 
 may be employed for the service of mankind. 
 
 Granular quartz quarried in masses is worth on the spot 
 $ 1 50 per ton. Ground and not bolted, $5 per ton. Bolt- 
 ed, $20 per ton. It grinds very easily in a common grist 
 mill with granite stones, but bolts slowly on account of 
 its great weight ; hence the increased the cost of the 
 bolted and assorted powders. 
 
 Mica. 
 
 Mica is obtained in large quantities in the towns of 
 Alstead and Grafton, where regular quarries are wrought 
 for the purpose of extracting it from the coarse granite 
 rocks. 
 
 The Alstead quarry is owned by Mr. James Bowers, 
 of Acworth, who pursues the business in a profitable 
 manner, and sells from 800 to 1000 dollars worth per sea- 
 son, at the rate of from 2 to 3 dollars per Ib. He sup- 
 plies the Boston market with a large quantity of this use- 
 ful mineral. 
 
 The Grafton quarry is wrought by persons resident in 
 Boston, and their principal market is New York. They 
 quarry and sell about $ 1000 worth per annum, and obtain 
 from 2 50 to 3 per Ib. for the trimmed plates suitable for 
 use. The rough irregular plates are sold at prices vary- 
 ing from 1$ to 2$ per Ib. 
 
152 CHLOROPHYLLITE. 
 
 Formerly we depended upon the quarries of Russia 
 for this valuable mineral, and it was known in the market 
 under the names of Muscovy talc, or isinglass. It is em- 
 ployed on board the Russian ships of war in the place of 
 glass, and has the advantage of not being broken by 
 the concussion produced on firing cannon. In this coun- 
 try we employ mica for the manufacture of lanthorns, 
 and those of the Boston fire companies are generally made 
 of New Hampshire mica. It is used also for stove win- 
 dows, and for the manufacture of cards, for the mariner's 
 compass, it having the property of never warping by 
 moisture or dryness. The best compasses are made of 
 a single clear plate of mica, under which the magnetic 
 bar is secured, and on the upper side the printed plate 
 bearing the cardinal points, is pasted. Mica has also been 
 used to protect ships' bottoms from worms, but to a very 
 limited extent, copper being better for that purpose. 
 
 Chlorophyllite A new Mineral. 
 
 CHLOROPHYLLITE. I have given this name to a new 
 mineral found near J. Neal's mine in Unity. The name 
 is derived from the Greek words signifying green folia, a 
 name which is eminently characteristic of the species. 
 
 It occurs in tabular, or short six sided prisms, arranged 
 in folia or in columnar masses, resulting from the open- 
 ness of its natural joints. 
 
 The extremeties of the prisms or tables are often cov- 
 ered with thin layers of mica, which circumstance has 
 caused some mineralogists to mistake the true nature of 
 the mineral. 
 
 It cleaves readily into regular six sided prisms, with 
 resplendent surfaces. 
 
 On trying its hardness it was found to yield to the 
 
CHEMICAL ANALYSES. 153 
 
 knife readily, but it scratches glass, and is harder than 
 phosphate of lime. 
 
 Its powder is of a very pale greenish white. Alone be- 
 fore the blowpipe it glazes slightly on the surface, but 
 does not fuse entirely. 
 
 It is fusible with carbonate of soda, with slow efferves- 
 cence, and forms an opaque greenish enamel, which be- 
 comes of a darker green in the reducing flame. 
 Its specific gravity is 2.705. 
 
 Mr. J. D. Whitney analyzed a specimen of it in my 
 laboratory, and obtained the following results. One hun- 
 dred grains of the mineral consist of 
 
 Water, 3.600 
 
 Silica, 45.200 
 
 Phosphate of Alumina, 27.600 
 
 Magnesia, 9.600 
 
 Prot-oxide of Iron, 8.256 
 
 Manganese, 4.100 
 
 Traces of Potash, and loss, 1.644 
 
 100.000 
 
 Chemical analysis of the brown Tourmaline, from the 
 Talcose slate rocks of Orford. 
 
 100 grains of this mineral consist of 
 
 Water, 0.8 
 
 Silica, 33.7 
 
 Alumina, 33.0 
 
 Per oxide of Iron, 11.8 
 
 Oxide of Manganese, 3.4 
 
 Magnesia, 6.4 
 
 Lime, 2.9 
 
 Soda, and traces of Lithia, 4.9 
 
 Boracic acid and loss, 3.1 
 
 100.00 
 19 
 
154 CHEMICAL ANALYSES. 
 
 Chemical analysis of Beryl from Acworth, by M. B. 
 Williams. 
 
 Silica, 68.35 
 
 Alumina, 17.60 
 
 Glucina, 14.00 
 
 Ox. Iron, and chromic oxide, traces and loss, 0.05 
 
 100.00 
 
 Chemical analysis of the white felspar, or albite of 
 Alstead, by J. D. Whitney. 
 
 100 grains of the mineral yield 
 
 Silica, 70.84 
 
 Alumina, 21.20 
 
 Soda, and traces of Lime and Iron, 7.96 
 
 100.00 
 
 Chemical analysis of Marl, from Lyme. 
 100 grains of the dry marl contain 
 
 Water, 
 
 Vegetable matter, 
 
 Insoluble silicates, 
 
 Per oxide of Iron, , 
 
 Alumina (free) 
 
 Carbonate of Lime, 
 
 gain from moisture, 
 
 100.0 
 
 The vegetable matter consists of the crenic and apo- 
 crenic acids with traces of humic acid. The amount sol- 
 uble in carbonate of ammonia in 100 grains of the marl, 
 is 1.5 grains. 
 
 The marl of Lyme may be advantageously employed 
 for the improvement of the sandy soils which occur in 
 the vicinity. 
 
GRAPHITE OR PLUMBAGO. 155 
 
 Chemical analysis of plastic clay from Bath. 
 
 100 grains of the dry clay contain 
 
 Water, 1.8 
 
 Vegetable matter, 3.5 
 
 Insoluble silicates, 81.2 
 Per oxide of iron, 6.7 
 
 Alumina, 5.0 
 
 Grenate and sulphate of lime , 1.7 
 Loss, 0.1 
 
 100.0 
 
 Graphite or Plumbago mines. 
 
 Plumbago is obtained in numerous places in New Hamp- 
 shire, but we know of only a few beds of that mineral 
 which are more than 4 feet in width and they are fre- 
 quently of much smaller dimensions. 
 
 Mr. Henry D. Pierce of Hillsborough, works the plum- 
 bago mines of Goshen, and sells about 20 tons of the 
 ground mineral per annum at prices varying from 3 to 5 
 cts per pound. It is used for the manufacture of melting 
 pots employed by copper founders. 
 
 The Goshen mines are situated on the side of Sunapee 
 Mountain, 1 1-2 mile S. E. from Mr. Trow's house. The 
 bed is included in mica slate and is accompanied by radia- 
 ted black tourmaline. Its course is N. E. and S. W. and 
 it dips to the S. E. 74. It is also accompanied by cross 
 veins of a very fine and pure foliated plumbago suitable 
 for pencils. 
 
 In Antrim, near Hillsborough, there is also a bed of 
 very pure plumbago, situate on Campbell's Mountain. 
 The bed is irregular, varying from a few inches to 2 feet 
 and runs N. 10 E., S. 10 W. This locality has not yet 
 
156 MOLYBDENA AND BARYTES. 
 
 been sufficiently examined. The quality of the plum- 
 bago being excellent, it is intended to open the bed to 
 some extent during the present year. 
 
 Sulphuret of Molybdena, a substance bearing a close 
 resemblance in its external characters, to foliated graphite 
 or plumbago, occurs in the town of Westmoreland on the 
 estate of Mr. Lincoln, in very large veins ; also in Fran- 
 conia and Landaff in regular tabular crystals. 
 
 This mineral was examined for the purpose of ascer- 
 taining whether it could be used advantageously for the 
 fabrication of a pigment or coloring matter. Its deut-oxide 
 is of a beautiful blue color and it has been supposed to be 
 capable of being used in the arts. Thus far no favorable 
 result has been obtained, but it deserves a further trial. 
 
 The composition of pure sulphuret of molybdena is in 
 
 100 grains, 
 
 Sulphur, 40 
 
 Molybdena. 60 
 
 100 Beudant. 
 
 Sulphate of barytes is a heavy white crystallized min- 
 eral bearing some resemblance to calcareous spar in its 
 color, but it is much heavier. It is scratched by fluor-spar 
 and is fusible before the blow pipe into a white enamel. 
 Its specific gravity is 4.7. 
 
 It occurs in veins and nests in the micaceous specular 
 iron ore of Piermont, on Cross' Hill. 
 
 The composition of pure sulphate of baryta is 
 Sulphuric acid, 34.37 
 
 Baryta, 65.63 
 
 100.00 
 
 It is sometimes used in the adulteration of white lead, 
 for which its great weight and pure whiteness fits it, but 
 it diminishes the body of the white lead, and also wears 
 out the painter's brushes ; so that it is in a measure injurious. 
 
DANAITE. 
 
 1ST 
 
 Mr. A. Hayes, of Roxbury, has made a chemical analy- 
 sis of the arsenical sulphuret of iron and cobalt or Danaite, 
 which is found in Franconia, and I hoped to have been 
 able to communicate his results in this report, but his ab- 
 sence from home has prevented my obtaining from him 
 his notes. 
 
 The following measurements were made on a crystal, 
 which I gave to Mr. J. E. Teschemacher of Boston, who 
 has kindly furnished me with a drawing which is here 
 represented by a wood cut engraving. 
 
 Boston, Nov. 10, 1840. 
 DEAR SIR : 
 
 Below I beg to hand you the drawing and measurements 
 of the mineral as you requested. Pray make what use of 
 it you please. Yours sincerely, 
 
 J. E. TESCHEMACHER. 
 
 Primary form, the right rhombic prism. 
 
 M on M 68 do , over summit 112. a on a 121.30. c on c' 100.15. Planes i 1 too 
 dull to measure. 
 
 Planes P P are obliterated by modification, c on the acute angle of the right 
 rhombic prism. 
 
 Brongniart observes that cobalt, as well as silver, is frequently found in small 
 quantities in arsenical pyrites. 
 
Additional 
 articulars. 
 
 Water. 
 Organic matter. 
 
 Magnesia. 
 Salts of Lime. 
 Alumina. 
 
 Per-ox'e of iron 
 and manganese 
 
 Insoluble in 
 muriatic acid. 
 
 Fine Loam. 
 
 Sand. 
 
 Grain. 
 
 Particulars of 
 cultivation. 
 
 Description 
 
 and 
 Locality. 
 
 Number. 
 
 5 O CO GO tO CO GO G^" CO GO S<f >- "*' CO i ' G^i ' 
 
 
 tO O O G^ *4 ^O O^ O O^ 
 
 I! 
 
 11 . 
 
 gggS5; 
 
 ill 
 
 UUc 
 
 
 . 
 
 W 
 
ANALYSIS OP PEATS, MARLS, AND CLAYS. 
 
 159 
 
 ANALYSIS OF PEATS, MARLS, AND CLAYS. 
 
 Silicious matter. 
 
 No. 
 
 Locality. 
 
 
 Veg'ble 
 matter. 
 
 Silicious 
 matter. 
 
 Silica. 
 
 Alumina 
 and iron. 
 
 Salts of 
 Lime. 
 
 
 1 
 
 Meredith. "} 
 
 Peat. 
 
 94.90 
 
 5.10 
 
 2.10 
 
 1.00 
 
 2.00 
 
 
 2 | Canterbury 
 
 Peat.* 
 
 93.80 
 
 6.20 
 
 3.90 
 
 1.10 
 
 1.20 
 
 
 3 
 
 Franconia. ) 
 
 Peat. 
 
 73.70 
 
 26.30 
 
 18.30 
 
 4.00 
 
 3.80 
 
 
 4 
 
 Lyme. 
 
 Marl. 
 
 2.80 
 
 79.5 
 
 notsep 
 
 9.40 
 
 7.30 
 
 Carb. Lime. 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 Marl. 
 
 1.90 
 
 77.30 
 
 
 15.80 
 
 3.50 
 
 5 carb.& cre- 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 l nate of lime 
 
 6 
 
 Bath. 
 
 Clay. 
 
 3.50 
 
 81.20 
 
 
 11.70 
 
 .00 
 
 
 7 
 
 Hanover, } 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 C Carbonate 
 
 
 Mr. J. Dur- 
 
 Marl. 
 
 4.80 
 
 83.00 
 
 
 10.00 
 
 2.20 
 
 < and crenate 
 
 
 kee'sFarm. j) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Cof Lime. 
 
 * Shaker's Farm. 
 
 Shaker Village, Oct. 12. 1840. 
 DR. JACKSON: 
 
 I herewith send you a few specimens of the different 
 soils which principally compose our farm. My object is 
 to gain a practical knowledge of the soils, so as to render 
 the good better, and the poor productive. No. 1 contains 
 a portion of the large peat bog which you examined when 
 at our Village. 
 
 No. 2 was taken from our garden soil naturally good, 
 and by cultivation brought to a high state of productive- 
 ness. 
 
 (Is not this soil (No. 2) too heavy for the peat compost ?) 
 
 No. 3 is a very weak soil, rather moist than otherwise, 
 
 producing only white birch bushes and wild golden-rod, 
 
 (Solidago) and will not retain the manure applied more 
 
 than one or two years. 
 
 No. 4 is the sub-soil of the above, (No. 3-) 
 (Would not these two intimately mixed form a good soil? ) 
 No. 5 was taken from the best natural grass land we 
 have, probably as good as any in the country. 
 
 No. 6 is the stone I mentioned to you, which I suppose 
 is some combination of iron with some of the earths. 
 
160 SOILS AND COMPOSTS* 
 
 Thanking you for your liberality in communicating 
 your sentiments in regard to soils, manures, &c. and hap- 
 py to render you all the assistance in our power. 
 I remain, yours truly, 
 
 WM. TRIPURE. 
 
 During the past winter, a large share of my time has 
 been devoted to researches into the nature of soils, and I 
 intended to publish in this Report a full account of the 
 results to which I had arrived, but the subject requires 
 so many details and general considerations, in order to 
 render it fully comprehensible, that it would be imprac- 
 ticable to have the Report ready in season, if all the mat- 
 ter should be printed. By advice of the Governor and 
 Council, I have therefore suppressed a large portion of my 
 remarks, and shall reserve them for the full Report, whi ch 
 will be published hereafter. We shall then be able to give a 
 still more detailed account of the nature and modes of im- 
 provement of soils, and hope to obtain much valuable sta- 
 tistical information concerning the agriculture of the 
 State. 
 
 I have inserted the general results of the proximate 
 analyses, in order to exhibit the proportions of earthy, sa- 
 line and vegetable matters in the soils which have been 
 analyzed. In my next Report, I shall give a full account 
 of the precise nature of the organic matters which have 
 been detected in soils of various grades of fertility. I may 
 here state that we have discovered the following ingredi- 
 ents in the organic matter of all the soils which have been 
 analyzed, and that they vary in proportions in different 
 soils and at different seasons of the year, so that the ut- 
 most detail will be reqaired hereafter in the exposition of 
 their relations to each other, and to the mineral ingredi- 
 ents. 
 
 The soluble organic ingredients found in all fertile soils, 
 
SOILS AND COMPOSTS. 161 
 
 according to the researches of Berzelius. Hermann, and 
 those which I have made during the past three years, are 
 
 Crenic acid, 
 
 Apocrenic acid. 
 
 Humin acid, 
 
 Humic, and 
 
 Extract of Humus. 
 
 These matters are generally combined with the bases 
 Lime, Magnesia, Soda or Potash, Ammonia, Manganese, 
 Per-oxide of iron and Alumina, forming extremely com- 
 plex combinations, which require the exertion of the ut- 
 most skill of the chemist for their separation. 
 
 As a general result, I would also state that the crenic 
 and humic acids, combined with lime and ammonia, exist 
 in the sub-soils ; hence we may account, in a measure, for 
 the advantages arising from deep and sub-soil ploughing, 
 which bring these valuable soluble ingredients within the 
 reach of plants. 
 
 In several bog and pond waters I have also found the 
 apocrenate and humate of ammonia, in considerable quan- 
 tities, and I have no doubt that the differences observed in 
 the relative value of waters for irrigation depends upon the 
 presence or absence of these soluble matters. 
 
 When we form compost manures, we should endeavor 
 to produce those useful substances which may be deficient 
 in the natural soil, and to replace those which are ex- 
 hausted by the repeated removal of crops, or by infiltration 
 and decomposition. It becomes us, therefore, to ascertain 
 most minutely the chemical nature of soils, and to study 
 attentively the effects of compost manures. This subject 
 is yet in its infancy, and requires the aid of the most 
 careful and scientific researches for its full elucidation. 
 
 We can, from experimental trials and from long and re- 
 peated observations, give some useful directions as to the 
 preparation of compost manures. The following results 
 
 20 
 
162 SOILS AND COMPOSTS. 
 
 Veg- 
 
 may therefore be found of advantage to the farmer. Veg- 
 etable matters, on decomposition, produce a brown sub- 
 stance, which has acid properties, and which is but slightly 
 soluble in pure water. 
 
 By the action of alkaline matters, such as potash, soda, 
 ammonia and lime, we may correct this natural acidity, 
 and at the same time convert a larger proportion of the 
 vegetable mould into a soluble manure, capable of be- 
 ing taken up by the rootlets of plants, and suitable for 
 assimilation in the vegetable sap vessels. 
 
 Animal matter, containing a large proportion of nitro- 
 gen, gives out a great quantity of ammonia when decom- 
 posed. Hence the well known value of animal excrements 
 as manures, even on soils already charged with a suffi- 
 ciency of vegetable matters. 
 
 Now we shall see that the influence of lime in a com- 
 post heap, composed of vegetable and animal matters in a 
 state of decay, is to eliminate the ammonia from the pu- 
 trid animal matters, so as to cause it to act upon the vege- 
 table substances, which are naturally acid, and to render a 
 larger proportion of the organic matter soluble in water. 
 
 The influence of lime is also exerted to neutralize acids 
 which, in their free state, are noxious j such, for instance, 
 as the sulphuric and phosphoric acids, and their acid salts, 
 and the resulting combinations with lime are extremely 
 favorable to vegetation. 
 
 Gypsum, if mixed into a compost where carbonate of am- 
 monia is eliminated, is partially decomposed, and carbonate 
 of lime and sulphate of ammonia result, which the exper- 
 iments of Mr. Lecog and others have proved to be valuable 
 saline manures. Carbonate of ammonia is also well known 
 to be a most powerful manure, but we cannot afford to use 
 in a large way so costly a substance as the commercial ar- 
 ticle. We must, therefore, make it indirectly in our com- 
 post heaps, as I have long since stated in former Reports, 
 
SOILS AND COMPOSTS. 
 
 163 
 
 When \ve compost together through the whiter peat, 
 swamp muck, rotten wood, or any vegetable matters, with 
 barn-yard manure, and in the spring season we mix into 
 the heap, about three weeks before we intend to use the 
 compost, some recently slacked lime, (or, if that is not to 
 be had, some unleached ashes or potash will answer,) we 
 generate, from the decomposition of the animal matters, 
 an enormous quantity of ammonia, which will be absorb- 
 ed by the vegetable acids, and the manure will be power- 
 fully augmented in strength and value. 
 
 The proportions in which peat or swarnp muck and 
 stable manure have been employed on a large scale, suc- 
 cessfully, are as follows : 
 
 Three loads of swamp muck or peat ; 
 
 One load of stable or barn-yard or any animal manure. 
 
 These are made into a compost heap and are allowed to 
 ferment over winter, or long enough for decomposition to 
 commence. 
 
 In the spring season, one cask of recently slaked lime 
 is to be carefully mixed in while digging over the heap. 
 The lime extricates the pungent, gaseous alkali ammonia 
 which penetrates every part of the compost heap and 
 neutralizes the organic acids, forming valuable soluble 
 compounds. 
 
 Night soil and the urine of animals is also a most useful 
 addition to a compost heap and will produce more ammo- 
 nia than any other animal manures. Every farmer should 
 provide some means for saving the liquid manures which 
 are so frequently wasted, for if properly used, liquid ma- 
 nures are of very great value. 
 
 If peat swamp muck or rotten wood can be obtained, 
 they may be made to absorb the liquids by placing them 
 under the stable, or a trench may be cut from the stable 
 and vault, and the liquid manures may be conveyed 
 thereby into the vegetable composts which in such case 
 
164 SOILS AND COMPOSTS. 
 
 may be placed at a distance from the dwelling house, at a 
 lower level. 
 
 Vegetable matters of the kind above stated, should also 
 be put into the hog-styes and the hogs will soon convert 
 it into a good compost. Every hog, says the celebrated 
 farmer, Mr. Phinney of Lexington, will make 10 loads of 
 good compost manure if you will afford him the materials. 
 In the spring the compost is to be thrown out from the 
 styes, and then lime or ashes may be advantageously 
 mixed with it, and it will be ready for use in 10 days. 
 Many intelligent and enterprising farmers already practice 
 some of the rules here laid down, and it is desirable that 
 all should know the theory of their operations. 
 
 In drawing this Annual Report to a close, I would most 
 respectfully invite the farmers of New Hampshire to keep 
 records of their experience, and if they will communi- 
 cate them to me before the 1st of January next, I shall 
 be happy to lay the results of their observations before 
 the agricultural community in my future reports to the 
 Legislature, and I earnestly hope that whoever has discov- 
 ered any thing which he deems useful in the improvement 
 of agriculture, will not fail to allow others the benefits 
 which may result therefrom. So far as I have observed, 
 a most liberal spirit prevails among agriculturists, and I 
 doubt not that many useful suggestions will be communi- 
 cated. Individual experience may often lead into error, 
 if not compared with the experience of others, and it is 
 an ancient and generally true maxim, that "in a multitude 
 of counsellors there is wisdom." 
 
 The foregoing Report is most respectfully submitted by 
 your Excellency's obedient servant, 
 
 CHARLES T. JACKSON. 
 
 State Geologist. 
 
 Boston, June ls, 1841. 
 
 To His Excellency JOHN PAGE, 
 
 Governor of the State of New Hampshire. 
 
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