UTICA SLATE. gl^ 



maximum is there probably the greatest. Through Steuben and Western are other points 

 where it can readily be examined, and where it shows great thickness. So also in Lewis 

 county, it is still more favorable to observation ; the slate forming a part of a high range as in 

 Montgomery, by which numerous water courses traverse to Black river, through very deep 

 channels cut into this rock. 



Where the lowei: part of the slate appears, in Herkimer county especially, the thin layers 

 or flags of impure black limestone, so characteristic of it, may be observed. They are best 

 seen on West Canada creek, towards the lower part in its small tributaries, and in the side- 

 hill on the south of the river below Herkimer village. They are more exposed near the farm 

 of Stephen Hammond, to the north of Little-Falls, not far from the road to Fairfield. 



At this locality, in a small lateral water course, there are two thin layers of fibrous sulphate 

 of strontian, which are parallel with, the slate ; also a singular layer, two or three inches 

 thick, of a leaden grey color, resembling clay, but solid : when wet with water, it falls into 

 fragments like lime in slaking. 



The slate shows at every point two sets of vertical joints, and often a third. At the creek 

 to the east of Utica, the direction is N. 30° E. for one, N. 55° E. for another, and S. 60° 

 E. for the third ; this latter is the less common one. South of Little-Falls the joints were 

 N. 89° E., and N. 19° E. ; at the brook on the south side of St. Johnsville, N. 55° E., 

 and N. 15° E. ; near the dyke on East Canada creek, N. 30° E., and S. 70° E. 



Back of Spraker's basin; where the slate makes its appearance in the bed of the creek 

 about half a mile above the falls, there are several small workings for lead ore. No large 

 regular veins exist, but only the common vertical joints of the rock filled with carbonate of 

 lime, and some sulphurets of lead, iron and zinc, the latter rare. 



The first mine, ascending the creek, is on the left side : there the ore of lead is to be seen ; 

 the veins numerous, but none at that time over one and a half inches wide ; very irregular, 

 the direction being generally east and west. This mine cannot be very far in perpendicular 

 direction from the Trenton limestone ; and should the workings ever be extended to that rock, 

 it may furnish facts conclusive as to the connection between the rock and the substances 

 which fill the veins, though less so, from the similarity of the two rocks in part as to compo- 

 sition, than if they were totally unlike each other. 



Higher up the creek, on the same side, is the next working : there the slate rises into high 

 vertical walls on both sides of the creek. This is the point from whence the mass of galena, 

 several inches wide, was taken, and which was sent to the Treasury office. At this mine are 

 veins of brilliant pyrites, and some carbonate of lime, with a little galena. The vein worked 

 is very variable as to width, enlarging from three to five inches within a distance of a few 

 feet, and then nearly running out from the sides of the rock coming together. The veins 

 exist in a part of the rock where the material of the slate was more plastic and carbonaceous 

 than is usual with the rock. 



Other workings exist on the opposite side of the creek, and were deemed the most impor- 

 tant. Many years ago, workings were made in the bottom of the creek, where innumerable 

 veins or strings of white carbonate of lime exist, showing occasionally a few specks of galena. 



