Description of the Bare Hills. 349 



Art. XVIII. — Description of the Bare Hills near Baltimore ; by 



H. H. Hayden, M. D. 



In the year 1810 and at the particular request of the Editor of a 

 Periodical Journal (" the Baltimore Medical and Philosophical Ly- 

 ceum") I undertook to give a Mineralogical and Geological descrip- 

 tion of the country surrounding Baltimore, to the extent of about 

 nine miles. This, although an imperfect sketch, embraced that in- 

 teresting region, commonly and very appropriately called, the Bare 

 Hills, the description of which was subsequently republished in Dr. 

 Bruce's Journal. 



* 



As my knowledge of this region was, at that time, superficial, 

 and as I have since repeatedly visited, and carefully examined al- 

 most every part of it and have discovered some interesting minerals, 

 not before known to exist there ; and moreover, as this district, on 

 account of the variety and character of its minerals, has excited no 

 small degree of interest among American mineralogists, I have ven- 

 tured to offer you another, and I trust a much more perfect descrip- 

 tion ; in the hope, that those who may hereafter visit this district, 

 may, with this aid, find the several localities, without fatigue and 



trouble. 



With this view I send you a sketch of the district, as correct, I 

 believe, as could well be made without an actual survey. Upon this 

 sketch I have endeavored to designate all the interesting points, and 

 should you deem it in any degree valuable, it is at your disposal. 



The district which I propose to describe, has, I believe, long been 

 known as the Barrens, or Barren Fields ; but, for many years past, 

 it has been called the "Bare Hills." 



Until the year 1808 or 1810, little was known of the mineralo- 

 gical character of these hills, and little else was obvious to the trav- 

 eler besides their repulsive aspect. About this time, the chromate of 

 iron, in small irregular or rolled masses, was discovered in one of the 

 deep ravines, by Mr. Henfrey, a gentleman who it is believed, was 

 the discoverer of chrome, titanium, and several other interesting min- 

 erals, in this part of the country. Subsequently, and particularly 

 since the commencement of regular operations for obtaining chro- 

 mate of iron, this district has excited, especially among mineralo- 

 gists, a degree of interest not surpassed, perhaps, in the case of any 

 locality in the United States. 



Vol, XXIV.— No. 2. 45 



