AMERICAN GEOLOGISTS AND NATURALISTS. 15 



the rock yields from six to Uvelve per cent, of metallic copper. 

 Kecent bituminous coal from the Adcinity of Newfiekl, Maine, 

 taken from a peat bed. New red sandstone from Tobique River, in 

 New Brunswick, containing about one half its weight of gypsum, 

 Syphonia, fossil-like substances with tubuli running through 

 them and assuming various forms. They were supposed to be 

 concretions formed around twigs and roots of trees or other or- 

 ganic matter. 



Dr. L. C. Beck read a paper " On the Sulphur Springs of the 

 State of New York." 



In this paper the author noticed, 1st. The geographical range of 

 these springs, their geological positions and association. Under this 

 head it was stated that they are found in almost every formation, 

 from the slates of the Hudson river to the shales of Erie and Cha- 

 tauque county, having a range over nearly the whole state, and being 

 found in almost every county. 2. The amount of gaseous matter 

 evolved by these springs. This cannot be correctly ascertained, but 

 from many facts stated by the author, there can be no doubt of its 

 vast quantity. Some instances were mentioned in which large 

 streams and ponds were impregnated with sulphureted hydrogen. 

 It was also remarked, that independently of the amount of gas 

 which is held in solution ^by the waters of these springs, there is 

 often a flow of gas which seems to be undissolved or uncombined. 

 3d. Some facts were stated in regard to the uniformity in the com- 

 position of these springs. In all cases in which they have been 

 examined, they contain, in addition to the sulphureted hydrogen, a 

 small proportion of carbonic acid. The solid matters are almost in- 

 variably sulphates of lime and magnesia, with smaller proportions 

 of carbonate of lime, and occasionally sulphate of soda. It was 

 especially observed that sulphate of iron is very rarely found 

 among the solid ingredients of these waters. Common salt is 

 often found in the sulphur springs which occur in the vicinity of 

 the Onondaga brine springs. 4th. The author next adverted to the 

 observations which had been made in regard to the temperature of 

 the New- York sulphur springs. Although these have not yet been 

 very extensively conducted, those which have been made seem to 

 warrant the inference that the temperature of these springs is some- 

 what higher (say 1° to 3°) than that of the mean temperature of the 

 localities in which they are found. 



The author then proceeded to examine the theories which have 

 been proposed to account for the formation of sulphur springs. The 

 decomposition of iron pyrites, often assigned as a cause, was object- 

 ed to on the ground that it was not sufficiently general — that it did 

 not meet those cases in which these springs are found in the older 

 rocks — that from what is knoAvn concerning the decomposition of 

 iron pyrites, it seems to be inadequate to account for the enormous 

 quantity of sulphureted hydrogen which is evolved, and lastly, 



