Depositions of Calcareous Tufa. 



355 



I 



I 



the Canal rocksj and is composed principally of quartzose sand, lime, 

 and clay slate. . Most specimens of the rock will effervesce on the ap- 

 plication of muriatic acid. This rock in the hill, is no where left 

 exposed by nature, but is covered to a considerable depth, in most 

 parts, with a diluvial deposit. On the west, and soudi west sides, are 

 several small springs, the waters of which are highly charged with 

 carbonate of lime, and on their arriving at the surface, this carbonate 

 is deposited forming pseudomorphoses, as various as the vegeta- 

 ble substances, which lie in their .vicinity. As fast as the wood, 

 leaves, and moss, in contact with these waters decay, the place of 

 the vegetable matter is supplied by the carbonate of lime, and the de- 

 position is so constant, that the minutest veins of the leaves, are to 

 be seen in the petrified mass. On these two sides of tlie hill, moss 

 may be found in abundance, in all states, from the hard stony sub- 

 stitution, to the green fruit-bearing plant- All these varieties may 

 be procured in pieces, not larger than ordinary hand specimens. 

 Wood may be found, with some of tlie vegetable fibres flexible and 

 elastic, and but slightly impregnated with calcareous matter; while 

 the contiguous parts of the same piece presenting with perfect dis- 

 tinctness, the course and turnings of the cortical layers, are as hard 

 as the rock of the hill. The petrified trunks of trees, are in an in- 

 clined position, on the sides of the liill, and generally near its base. 

 The trunk which has been principally resorted to for specimens, is 

 situated (as before stated) near the stage road north east of the vil- 

 liage and immediately on the right bank of the Branch Canal. 

 Round the hill to tlie south of tliis, many trunks are found in a 

 similar state and presenting specimens equally perfect. At the base 

 of the hill immediately east of the seminary, thirty rods distant, and 

 about the same distance south east of I\Ir. Livingston's Stage House, 

 are found vast quantities of tufa, embracing all the varieties before 

 mentioned except the petrified leaves, which though found in small 

 pieces here, are more perfectly petrified, at a small spring on the 

 south west part of the hill, and about fifty rods distant, fi-om the last 

 mentioned place. On these, hitherto little visited parts of die hill, 

 may be found an unlimited supply of vegetable petrifactions; and I 

 trust it is only necessary to point out the places where they may be 

 procured, to cause them to be resorted to, not only by the practical 

 mineralogist, but, by the general traveller. The fact that depositions 

 are daily taking place and the contiguity of the location to the stage 

 liouse, must cause all those who are disposed to combine instruction 



