QUATERNARY DEPOSITS. 227 



a portion of die side-hill and road. It appears to have commenced in a depression which it 

 filled, and moved from place to place, to avoid the obstructions which it created. 



Numerous deposits were also noticed in Skanandea and Oneida creeks, some occupying 

 large areas. 



Deposits are numerous in Madison county, near Clockville, Chittenango, &c. They are 

 more abundant in Onondaga county, along the north sides of the gypseous hills through Manlius 

 and De Witt. It is in great quantity towards Split-rock, and especially in Onondaga valley, 

 towards the head of the valley in Tully. Along Nine-mile creek it has the crystalline character 

 of alabaster, showing successive layers also, and in quantity suitable for the smaller purposes 

 for which that beautiful substance is used when polished. 



At Alcott's on Limestone creek in the tovra of Fabius, there is a large deposit, showing the 

 three varieties ; the earthy, solid or horsebone commonly so called, and the ferruginous. The 

 former kind or variety is made into bricks, and burnt for lime. 



There are several places in the district where deposits of tufa have raised mounds, and of 

 some size ; such as the one at Richford springs, to the south of Herkimer county. 



On the farm of Mr. Grizzle, southwest of Vernon village, near the Indian reservation, the 

 ground around a spring has been observed to rise, and is now about six feet above the general 

 level. The top part is muck, which produces luxuriant grass. From a digging made near the 

 spring, logs of wood encrusted with tufa were discovered : the rise evidently was caused by 

 a deposit of this mineral. At a lower level on the farm of Mr. Adams, there is another ele- 

 vation, caused by a deposit firom the same waters which flow in that direction. 



It was to a cause of this kind, the spring being less copious, that the Rock spring at Sara- 

 toga owes its stony envelope ; the water slowly depositing its carbonate of lime where exposed 

 to the air, and gradually raising the little hollow mound or elevation by which it is so well 

 known. 



FERRUGiNons Tufa. 



In several localities in the district, deposits of tufa and oxide of iron exist, some of which 

 have ceased to increase, whilst others are continuing to form. Of the latter kind, there is 

 a constant deposition going on upon the farm of Robert Riddle, about one mile west of the 

 village of Chittenango. The immediate deposit at the spring shows no iron, but at a little dis- 

 tance it is colored. The ground is low, and favorable for the deposit of bog ore, which no 

 doubt takes place, and thus stains the calcareous deposit. Some of the masses of tufa, 

 when broken, show thin veins of crystallized manganese : the same were noticed in the 

 fourth district, near the Genesee river. 



At Wilham Wheeler's, two and a half miles northeast of Salina, tufa is also stained with 

 hydrate of iron. This deposit is quite extensive ; it is upon a very gentle sloping side-hill, 

 the surface showing spongy muck, and swampy soil. This locahty clearly proves the double 

 source of the two materials ; the deposit at the springs being free from iron, and the surface 

 portion only colored by it. These springs, at both localities, appear to derive their material 



