New Red Sand Stone. 35 



Connecticut River Slate. 



Although a large part of Bernardston is represented as composed 

 of this slate, yet its characters are not perfectly developed, till we pass 

 into Vermont. In Guilford, Brattleborough, Dummerston, and even 50 

 or 60 miles northward, it produces an excellent material for roofs, wri- 

 ting slates, &c. ; and extensive quarries are opened in it in those towns. 

 The hest slate used in Massachusetts probably comes from this range. 

 In Bernardston it is quarried to some extent for grave stones. 



Berkshire Slate, 



The mica slate of the western section of the State, passes gradual- 

 ly into roof slate, and in most instances the characters of the lat- 

 ter are not very perfectly exhibited, until we have entered New 

 York. There, however, in Hoosac, and other towns, it is quarried 

 extensively for roofing ; and the western part of Massachusetts is 

 always sure of a supply of this valuable material from that quarter ; if 

 not within its own limits. 



Graphic Slate. 



This occurs in small quantities, along with the argillaceous slate, in 

 Lanesborough and Williamstown ; also abundantly in Bennington, 

 (Vt.) Prof. Dewey, from whose account I derive this fact, does not 

 state whether it is pure enough to be employed by artificers for draw- 

 ing lines, and for crayons ; uses to which this mineral has been appli- 

 ed in other countries. 



New Red Sandstone. 



This rock occurs in Massachusetts, only in the vicinity of Connect- 

 icut river ; along which, on both sides, ranges extend from Middle- 

 town, (Ct.) to Vermont. It affords large quantities of good stone 

 for building and other purposes. Some of the numerous varieties of 

 this rock are slaty ; and either of a red, gray or black color. These 

 varieties furnish good flagging stones ; and the side walks of all the 

 principal places along the river, are chiefly covered by them. In the 

 more common varieties, the strata are from six inches to two feet or 

 more in thickness ; and for the most part, the color is red, though 

 sometimes gray. From hence is obtained most of the rock N of this 

 formation used in architecture. The most delicate variety occurs in 

 Long Meadow and Wilbraham. It consists simply of an almost blood 



