THK GEOLOGY OF MINNESOTA. 



[Wells. 



come from near Shieldsville, and once from near Faribault. It is in silky threads, that are fine 

 and from a vein in some rock. This vein is 2J inches wide, the threads running transverse to the 

 direction of the vein, and presenting a faulted structure near the middle of the vein. None of the 

 rock is preserved in the samples seen, but as both specimens have the same faulted structure they 

 probably came from the same vein, if not from the same boulder. The grain of the mineral, and 

 its color, also indicate the same. 



Mastodon remains. Concerning the mastodon tusk found at Northfield, Prof. Sperry writes 

 as follows: 



CARLETON COLLEGE, NORTHFIKLD, MINN., 



April 8th, 1882. 

 PROF. N. H. WINCHEI.L, MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. 



DEAR SIR: In reply to yours of 3rd instant making inquiries concerning some remains of 

 a mastodon found in this city in 1879, and now in the cabinet of Carleton college, I would respect- 

 fully state that the remains found here consist only of a part of one tusk. This was exposed by 

 some workmen, while digging in a deposit of drift, about ten feet below the surface. 



The portion of the tusk found measured eight and one-half (8j) feet in length, and twenty- 

 two 1 22) inches in circumference, at the base. When restored, by continuing its general line of 

 taper to a point, it measures nearly twelve (12) feet. 



The broken extremity of the part found was so eroded and rounded as to render it evident 

 that it had been broken and separated from the terminal portion before being deposited where it 

 was found. Its whole appearance indicates that it had shared the rough-and-tumble experience 

 of its associated drift material. 



Subsequent removal of much of the surrounding bank has not revealed the separated ex- 

 tremity. Exposure to the light and air has resulted in checking and slacking the discovered 

 specimen, so that protection, by the use of glue, sizing and varnish, became necessary. 



Yours cordially, 



L. B. SPERRY. 



Wells in Rice county. 



Wlieatland. Wells in Wheatland township are generally in blue clay after passing through 

 two to four feet of yellow clay. The latter contains pebbles and bits of Cretaceous shale, and if 

 not a weathered condition of the blue till, is closely connected with it in origin. William Sherack, 

 S. W. J sec. 16; well, 33 ft.; yellow clay, then blue clay. 



Webster. Edward McFadden, S. E. J sec. 17; well, 38 feet; all yellow and blue clay except at 

 the bottom where water was found in gravel. Pieces of Cretaceous shale and lignite were found 

 in this well. Thomas Reynolds, sec. 14; well, 42 ft.; yellowish-red clay, 18 ft; the rest was blue 

 clay. Martin Duffy, S. E. J sec. 16; well, 54 feet.; said to be all in gravel, finding no water. This 

 is on land about twenty feet higher than McFadden's well. - Burke, on the south half of 



sec. 8; well, 68 ft., yellow and blue clay. John Malloy, S. E. J sec. 10; well, 30 ft.; yellow loam, 

 8-10 feet, then blue clay, and water in gravel. Mrs. Ann Kinsella, N. E. J sec. 14; well, 25 ft., 

 only yellow loam and blue clay. 



Forest. Simon Taylor, N. W. J sec. 13; well, 73 feet; dug all the way, yellow clay, blue 

 clay, quicksand, the blue clay making up the greater part of the depth, and the quicksand 

 and gravel at the bottom furnishing water. The blue clay had considerable slate, and occasionally 

 other stones as large as six inches. John Beckley, S. W. J sec. 12; well, 24 feet; yellow and blr.e 

 clay; water in sand. Leonard Balleyett's well, east side of sec. 22, is 25 feet deep, mostly in yel- 

 low clay. James Strange, N. E. J sec. 15; well, 18 feet, all in yellow and blue clay, with pieces of 

 Cretaceous shale. Wm. F. Sloan, N. E. cor. sec. 10; well 90 feet; in clay all the way to the bot- 

 tom, where qujcksand was struck, furnishing water. This well was bored 18 inches in diameter, 

 and planked with pine, thus rendering the water foul. George Parker, sec. 35; well, 110 feet; a 

 bored well, formerly good water. 



Bridyewater. At St. Olaf school, sec. 3(5, Bridgewater, near Northfield, the well is in 

 sand 6-10 feet, sandrock, 80-90 feet, Shakopee, about 50 feet; water is raised by a windmill. I. I. 

 Ilsley, N. E. J sec. 33; four wells, all in blue clay; 45 feet in blue clay, then limerock, then soap- 

 stone, there finding water, at least stopping there; probably seep water; no red clay under the blue 



