128 THE MOUNTAIN. 



the same geological formation. This is the limestone situ- 

 ated between the large slate formations ; the Corniferous 

 Limestone of the New York Geological Reports, and the 

 sixth formation in the Pennsylvania group, (No. 6.) Above 

 this formation is the thin porous sandstone of Formation 7 ; 

 succeeded by the large slate and shale groups already spoken 

 of. As we have seen, the lower part of Formation 8 con- 

 tains quantities of sulphuret of iron, and the decomposition 

 of this substance with the consequent liberation of sulphuric 

 acid, (the limestone itself containing strata of a peculiar 

 fetid rock, full of organic remains and magnesia,) is un- 

 doubtedly the origin of the salts of the springs which issue 

 from it. There are here several minor foldings or waves of 

 the rocks between the large axes of the mountains surround- 

 ing the valley in which the springs are situated. These 

 form small anticlinal axes and synclinal troughs, some of 

 which contain the black slate above alluded to in Formation 

 8, and it is here that the meteoric water is first impregnated 

 and afterwards breaks out, after traversing the channels of 

 the lime rock for some distance, in one of the anticlinal 

 arches at the springs. The principle spring, 



"ANDERSON'S," 



Is designated a " Saline chalybeate." The substances which 

 possess the active qualities which have given character to the 

 spring are the sulphate of magnesia, the muriates of soda 

 and lime, and carbonates of iron and lime. The quantity 

 of carbonic acid gas in a quart of the water is stated by 

 Dr. Church to be eighteen and a half cubic inches (///) 

 the temperature of the spring being 55 Fahr. : somewhat 

 higher than that of other springs in the neighborhood. 

 Their reputation is, that they possess certain powers over 

 diseases of the stomach and bowels, also over renal affec- 

 tions ; and in chronic, cutaneous, gouty, and rheumatic de- 

 rangements, they are said to be beneficial. A critical ana- 

 lysis by Dr. Church gives in a quart of the water thirty-one 



