THE MINERALOGY AND LITIIOLOGY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. 



Introduction. 



EW HAMPSHIRE is widely celebrated for its rocks and minerals. 

 We read much in literature of its granite hills and its rocky peaks. 

 Literary men and artists have, however, generally been satisfied to call 

 the material of every mountain cliff, every boulder, the walls of every 

 ravine, simply rock or granite ; but, if one has stopped occasionally to 

 notice the individual appearance of the rocks, and the many and mani- 

 fest differences in them ; has sometimes noticed in them the mineral 

 crystals, often of rare beauty; or has searched among them for sub- 

 stances of value, — he will certainly observe that in New Hampshire a 

 wonderful diversity of minerals and rocks is found. Here are minerals 

 of both economic and scientific interest, and rocks most widely different 

 in composition and mode of formation ; and it is the object of this report 

 so to describe and classify the mineral productions of the state, that 

 those who interest themselves in such studies may know and be able to 

 identify the minerals and rocks by which they are surrounded. 



Mineralogy and lithology are economic sciences. A knowledge of the 

 first enables one to detect the valuable products which can be extracted 

 from the crust of the earth : a knowledge of the latter enables one to tell 

 the value of rocks for building purposes, and the other uses to which they 

 are applied ; — and although the manifest utility of these studies has always 

 given them zest, yet it is hoped that many people, in this state so full of 

 minerals, will be interested in reading the more purely scientific parts of 

 this essay, in which the attempt is made to show, by simple means, the 



