Geology of Massachusetts. 49 
The new alkali, lithia, is found chiefly in two minerals, called peta- 
lite and spodumene, which, in Europe, are very rare. ut in Mas- 
sachusetts they occur in very great quantities ; particularly the latter. 
The former is found in Bolton and Westfield, and the latter in Goshen, 
Chesterfield, Norwich and Sterling. The lithia can now be obtain- 
ed, by a chemical process, from the minerals of these localities, in any 
quantity; and should it prove to be a useful substance, as every alkali 
is likely to be, these minerals may become an object of importance. 
Among the minerals in the State, that may be employed by the 
lapidaries, for ornamental purposes, may be mentioned chalcedony. 
Almost all its varieties occur in the greenstone ranges, in the valley 
of the Connecticut, and some of the agates which it forms are quite 
large, and need only polishing to be elegant. It occurs also in vari- 
ous other parts of the state, and in masses considerably large; but 
perhaps at none of the localities in such quantity, and of such quality, 
as to render it worthy the attention of the lapidary. 
Agates, both banded and brecciated, are found in the State, made 
up of quartz, hornstone, chalcedony, &c. of various colors. The 
largest and most perfect specimen of quartzose agate breccia, which 
I have found, was shown me at Rochester Centre; and I was told it 
was broken from a much larger mass, in the same town. 
In Saugus, near the center, is a fine locality of red jasper. It is 
not unfrequently striped, and if needed for ornaments, would un- 
doubtedly admit a fine polish. The bed or vein has not been ex- 
plored at all, except that a few fragments have been broken off by 
the passing mineralogist. _ 
We have beryls, somewhat numerous, and sometimes very large ; 
but probably they are not delicate enough, and are too much divided 
by seams, to be employed for elegant ornaments. 
A garnet or cinnamon stone was found by Professor Webster in 
Carlisle, which, in its natural state, is a splendid gem. Good speci- 
mens, however, cannot now be obtained, without farther exploration 
of the soil or the rock. 
The quartz crystals, that occur at several localities, are very per- 
fect, and might be used for watch seals, ring stones, spectacles, &c. ; 
those, for instance, found at Pelham, Southampton and Williams- 
burgh. The smoky quartz occurs at a few localities, and is fine for 
Ornaments. At Southampton, Pelham and Middlefield, is found the 
yellow quartz, which, in some instances, can scarcely be distinguish- 
ed from genuine topaz. The rose red quartz occurs at several places, 
5 
Vor. XXIL—No. 1. 
