Lead Mines, Se. of Hampshire County, Mass. 247 
ampton, it is seen east of the granite, in patches and broken 
Strata and in boulders, scattered upon the surface of the 
ground. In the west part of the town, where the granite ele- 
vations begin, the conglomerate approaches near to it, and 
is seen lying here and there, amongst granite, although I 
nd. 
meoereied. from the granite by a narrow plain, and here 
luvion, and the tertiary fataaceen is in some instances man 
eet deep, but sometimes approaches and even rises above the 
surface. At Northampton, above thesouth bridge, the stream 
has worn down a channel through the tertiary to the sand- 
stone. e, 
A continuation of this sandstone may be se fatfield, 
and also at Whately ; in both places it rises abet the sur- 
face, and at the latter place is hewn into hearth stones. It 
dips under the earth at the congregational meeting-house, 
and fifty rods north is again exposed to view, by a small 
stream that has carried away the earth down toit. : 
Here I will observe, that I have omitted any description of 
the coal formation and secondary greenstone, which are em- 
braced within the limits of the accompanying map. 'Fhese 
rocks have been amply described by Prof. Hitchcock, nor do 
I know of any additional facts. These rocks- are coloured 
vermilion. 
Ee 
What I and y el, earth and 
soil, which cover retk fo ‘matiol ‘it; as s 
I consider it in this communication. t all 
surface, and appears to have been Tortied by fhe e Wiraitod, 
Bi alias and decomposition of rocks, both primitive 
and secondary. It is found in vast abundance in vallies and 
between hills and mountains, and covers the rock ation, 
from one inch to fifty or pe hundred feet or more 
As we advance up 2 ‘hill or mountain the soil or earth he. 
thinner, until we reach the summit; here it is often 
wanting, and the rocks are left bare to the skies. On plains 
it is often found to be sand or gravel, without stones of any 
kind; but as we advance towards the hills or mountains, 
rounded masses of rocks, of all kinds and sizes, present 
