189L] ^:d [Carter. 'tii. i i 



Arte&ian Well in Lowest Trias at Norristown. 



Notes by Prof. 0. C. S. Garter. 



(Bead before the American Philosophical Society, May 1, 1S91.) 



Drilled in the Trias of Norristown, near Stony creek, for water for 

 steam boilers. 



15' Made ground to 15' 



23 Sandstone, light colored, coarse grained, containing 



fragments of orthoclase feldspar 38 



33 Sandstone, dull red, fine grained, with specks of mus- 



covite. Color due to iron oxide 71 



31 Sandstone, light pink (produced by pink orthoclase), 

 fine grained ; quartz grains transparent ; fine 

 specks of muscovite mica 102 



Water was struck every ten feet down to 70 ; none thence to 90 ; abun- 

 dance of water between 70 and 102 (located by the driller at 95, 100 and 

 102); cased at 18 with 6 inch pipe (of inside). Steam pump furnished 

 1003 gallons per hour. After pumping 4900 gallons, the level of water 

 in well fell 12 feet ; after 7500 gallons, it fell 16 feet and stood. 



Analysis of well water gave 11.8 degrees of hardness, as compared with 

 6 degrees for Schuylkill river water ; 14 degrees for English surface New 

 Red water (Wanklyn); and 17 degrees for English deep well, New Red 

 water. 



The lime exists mostly as carbonate, with some sulphate, and probably 

 comes from the cement between the sandstone grains. 



Another artesian well, situated within a hundred feet of this one, gave 

 water which precipitated in the boilers a fine white powder of carbonate 

 of lime, which did not cake and was easily blown out. This well water 

 is therefore as useful in steam boilers as is Schuylkill river water ; and is 

 better, because it holds no mud or sand in suspension. A little soda neu- 

 tralizes the sulphate of lime. The water also becomes perceptibly softer 

 after continued pumping. 



Artesian Well in Lowest Trias, at Norristown. 



Well drilled about half a mile from the Trenton limestone, which out- 

 crops at Mogee's Station, on the Schuylkill river, to obtain water for the 

 manufacture of artificial ice. 



Cased at 28 feet with 6 inch pipe. 

 30' Sandstone, very white and fine grained, containing a 



little pink orthoclase to 30' 



