210 Mineralogical and Chemical 



denlly from decomposition, and resembling basalt in all 

 its characters. Some of these rocks are interspersed 

 with minute crystals of felt- spar, and others contain 

 horn- blende. These stones are found in abundance, 

 scatterred on the surface of the ground, in every variety 

 of form. They are extremely hard ; when broken, 

 their structure is compact, and often presents distinct 

 granular concretions : they have also the quality of 

 being sonorous when struck with a hammer. 



I have met with no iron ore, nor any metallic appear- 

 ance, in the neighbourhood. It has been supposed, that 

 the low grounds contain a quantity of bog iron ore ; but, 

 as far as I have observed, this appearance arises from an 

 ochery deposition, which attends the course of the wa- 

 ters wherever they flow, and which has been gradually 

 accumulating to its present state. 



The mineral water which is the subject of this inquiry 

 arises from a small spring, nearly on a level with the 

 rivulet which runs in the same valley. The source of 

 it is not, perhaps, far distant, as its temperature is not 

 steady, being materially altered, either by rain or 

 by vicissitudes of the weather. In May, I found its 

 temperature to be 52°, while the thermometer in the 

 shade stood at 74° ; on the 20th of July, after a long 

 run of hot weather, I found it as high as 57°, when the 

 air was at 84°. At the same time, I examined some 

 wells in the neighbourhood, which were sunk 25 feet, 

 and I constantly found their temperature 52°, uninflu- 

 enced by the heat of the atmosphere. 



