1847.] Progressive Changes of Matter. 129 



tion of this geological phenomena we will quote from the report of 

 the geologist of the third district, Mr. Vanuxem. " In order to 

 account satisfactorily for all the loose materials which are scat- 

 tered over the surface south of the Helderberg range, nothing 

 more is required than an extension north of its rocks, which 

 must have existed so as to bring those of a lower level by the 

 dip or inclination which the rocks have with the geological 

 level which contains their products." 



There is another fact corroborative of the above views which 

 we presume did not fall under the notice of the geologist, or he 

 would have mentioned it. About 6 miles north of the conglom- 

 erate out-crop in the valley of the Mohawk there is a boulder of 

 this group weighing at least a ton, and in the valley of the West 

 Canada creek, a distance of at least 10 miles, fragments of the 

 same rock are seen. It will be observed that the conglomerate 

 rests immediately upon the slate rock, which is at least a thousand 

 feet in thickness at these places, so that these field stones, when 

 connected with the original mass, must have existed in that ele- 

 vated position above their present place of repose ; and as the 

 rocks beneath them were carried away by active currents, they 

 could not have made a perpendicular descent, they must have 

 been brought down on an inclination from a far northerly locality. 



We have selected the conglomerate because it is so readily re- 

 cognized, but as we become familiar with the other groups, both 

 above and below it, we can see the same phenomena in respect 

 to their fragmentary parts scattered over the surface. The birds- 

 eye and Trenton limestones, for instance, in many places skirt the 

 valley of the West Canada creek, and yet field stones are so nu- 

 merous from these groups, over on the side of the Mohawk valley 

 to the south, that they are gathered up and burned into lime. 

 The hill intervening must be at least 600 feet above them. 



Another fact will also be noticed bearing upon the subject. 

 The nearer these rocks approach the primary, the more their 

 beds are inclined. 



But why should we detail this class of proofs when others are 

 more available, and we think more conclusive. From whence 

 came these massive piles of broken rocks now in the form of round- 

 ed field stones, the numerous beds of gravel, sand and clay, and 

 sometimes all these or parts of them jumbled together? The loose 

 materials forming the immediate surface, are but parts of the same 

 rocks upon which they are now over-spread, and had principally 

 a northern origin. Now where did they exist when in the form 

 of rocks. Certainly not immediately above nor below their present 

 place of rest, nor could they have existed in southern localities. 

 The legitimate conclusion to be drawn from the fact, is that these 

 aqueous rocks, parts of which we see out -cropping, once had a 



Vol V. No. II. 9 



