TRENTON LIMESTONE. 55 



The falls of Trenton are not only the best locality in the district, as to the mineral charac- 

 ter of the rock, but are equally so for the fossil one ; and being the only rock there, the name 

 of Trenton limestone is unexceptionable. This is what is required for every other rock, and 

 the same principle ought to be carried out for groups, systems or classes. This would give 

 two ideas for one word, fixed points for comparison, and certainty and simplicity to the whole 

 subject. So, also, the specific names of all fossils should be based upon the same principle ; 

 and if carried out fully, as it should be, the subject would be of ready acquisition to every one. 



The whole of the fossils, by which this rock is readily recognized, exist at the falls, and 

 some in prodigious numbers ; such as the Alternate strophomcna, Tortoise orthis, Open bel- 

 lerophon and Puffball favosite. Those which are in less number, are parts of Senior caly- 

 mene, Striated orthocera, etc. 



Among the many localities of note where particular fossils are found, a few only will be 

 mentioned. One is Mr. Rathbone's, on the west side of West Canada creek, just above New- 

 port. This is the place from whence the Calymene blumenhachii, or Calymene senaria of 

 Mr. Conrad, was obtained, and sent to M. Brongniart at Paris ; and which, from similarity of 

 name, was supposed by the geologist of Massachusetts to be Newport, Rhode-Island. It is 

 one of the two known localities of the Trocholithus ammonius of the same author, and which 

 ■was first discovered by Gen. Spinner. The Striated orthoceras, the Trenton lingula, and the 

 more common fossils, are in considerable number at this place. 



Moltona creek, between Middleville and Fairfield village, is also a good locality : more 

 rock is exposed, and the fossils are more numerous and rather better preserved. This is one 

 of the best localities for fossils of the Trenton limestone. It is the only place where the 

 Compressed phragmolites was found, and the best species of the Quadrasulcated conularia. 



Sugar river, near where it disappears between the joints and the lower layers. At the 

 height of about twelve feet from the bed of the river, there are two layers which contain the 

 Glabrous atrypa (Atrypa glabella) in considerable numbers ; and also fine specimens of the 

 Semioval strophomena, with other well preserved fossils. 



Fort-Plain. More fragments of the Giant isotelus were seen here than at any other locality : 

 it is interesting also from the junction of its limestone with the birdseye limestone, as already 

 noticed. 



The Trenton limestone is the most metalliferous rock in the district, as regards lead and zinc 

 ores, but neither are found as yet in profitable quantity. The most favorable locality is near 

 Martinsburgh in Lewis county, about half a mile to the northwest of the village. The sur- 

 face of the rock is but slightly covered with soil, showing numerous vertical joints, chiefly in 

 two general directions ; one N.W., and the other varying from E. ^ E.N.E. to E. \ E.S.E. 

 In these latter, or the east and west joints, the ore is found, consisting of sulphuret of lead, 

 sulphurct of zinc, oxide of zinc, and some little copper pyrites. There are several parallel 

 workings, one of which extends about two hundred feet along the surface, and the deepest 

 about fifty feet, being not more than a sixth-part of the thickness of the rock. 



