ONONDAGA LIMESTONE. 137 



The above wood-cut, from a drawing by R. C. Taylor, exhibits a portion of a layer of 

 Onondaga limestone at Split-rock quarry, showing the well deiined vertical joints in two direc- 

 tions at nearly right angles to each other, so characteristic of this rock, as well as of most of 

 the rocks of New-York belonging to its system : one of the joints is E.N.E. The surface of 

 the rock, as in the wood-cut, shows slight scratches, the direction of which is north and south. 

 The lower layers of the limestone frequently contain black pebbles, whose water-worn cha- 

 racter admits of no doubt. When fractured, they show identity with the sandstone nodules 

 or accretions which are found in the Oriskany sandstone south of Paris hill, near Eastman's 

 quarry. 



At the village of Marcellus, it forms the bottom of the creek at the mill. It appears to be 

 of "a darker grey, finer grained, and less encrinal than usual ; but little, however, is exposed. 



The last place of note, where the Onondaga limestone is much exposed and quarried, is to 

 the north of Auburn, in front of the village, and east of the outlet. It is said that when the 

 building of the Prison was commenced, the stone used for the foundation was brought from 

 a distance ; the architects not being aware that the water-lime group, the rock of Split-rock, 

 and the comiferous limestone, underlaid that section, and that their outcrop was but a short 

 distance from the site of the building, extending east and west. The Onondaga limestone is 

 the rock which is wrought at the Prison, and of which so many of the buildings of Auburn 

 are constructed ; being sold at so low a rate, that preference in all cases even where expense is 

 considered, is given to it. It rests there upon the Oriskany sandstone, which is of variable 

 thickness, and is covered by the comiferous limestone. The same black rolled stones, con- 

 sisting of accretions from the Oriskany sandstone, occur in the bottom layer. Fossils are not 

 numerous, those found being some of the kinds already enumerated. 



Beyond Auburn, though the terrace of which it generally forms the surface rock is well 

 defined, yet from alluvion and soil the rock is but little exposed. Among other points where 

 it was seen, and which are of importance from the presence of other masses, is Yawger's 

 quarry, above the Oriskany sandstone, near the road to Springport; and upon the top of 

 Blanding quarry at Springport, between Rowland's quarry and the lake, being its last 

 appearance in the district. 



The Onondaga limestone has not yet been noticed as existing out of the State, but it is no 

 doubt a regular associate of the Helderberg divison^ wherever this division exists, being what 

 was once termed an universal formation or mass. The Smooth encrinite exists in prodigious 

 abundance about ten miles north of Nashville, where I collected it with Prof. Troost, the 

 Geologist of Tennessee, fifteen years ago. Recently I saw a specimen of it in the possession 

 of Mr. Conrad, given to him by Mr. Lyell, and imbedded in the same peculiar limestone as 

 the Onondaga. It was from the Wenlock limestone of Mr. Murchison in England, and 

 showed perfect identity with that of New-York. At the locality near Nashville there was no 

 quarry, the encrinites were replaced with silex, and we had no opportunity of obtaining an 

 unaltered specimen of the rock which had enclosed them. 

 Geol. 3d Dist. 18 



