228 GEOLOGY OF THE THIIID DISTRICT. 



from the gypseous deposit, which rises to the south at both places. The benefit of these 

 calcareous waters are perceived on the farm of Mr. Wheeler, when compared with the ad- 

 joining ones ; the common sorrel, for instance, does not grow in his fields, whilst it abounds 

 in those of his neighbors. 



At Grill's, in the town of Stark, Herkimer county, there is a considerable deposit of the 

 same kind of tufa, covering the hill-side for some distance on both sides of the gjrpseous adit. 



On Nine-mile creek, below tlie village of Marcellus, a like deposit also exists. 



Near Saltspringville, north of Cherry- Valley, a spring issues from the hill-side, which also 

 deposits iron and tufa. The spring was not visited by the reporter. It was said to have been 

 used as a paint. 



A similar deposit occurs in the valley just below the village of Genoa, in Cayuga county. 

 There it is equally obvious that the iron is a deposit from a mucky soil, the waters which 

 yield the calcareous deposit coming from a lower level. 



From the connection of specular iron ore with limestone upon the northern slope of the 

 primary, which is evidently a water-worn surface, its first great deposit subsequent to the 

 ore having been a mass of sand, these ferruginous tufas are of interest, pointing to a like 

 origin for those products ; both having been subjected to crystallization, the particles of iron 

 were brought together to form the specular masses ; whilst the carbonate of lime, as the 

 greater product, served as a matrix or envelope. 



Boo Ore, Limonite, &c. 



This very common, though not an abundant product in the third district, is caused chiefly 

 by the decomposition of iron pyrites ; by the decomposition of rocks, or their minerals, con- 

 taining iron as a constituent ; and from the soil by decomposing vegetable matter, as explained 

 in the first report of the fourth district. This kind of ore usually lies in low places ; and 

 where so few excavations exist in such situations, but few deposits could be met with. As 

 the country increases in population, and the swampy soils are drained, the ditches made for 

 that purpose will afford information, which could not be obtained during this survey without 

 resorting to manual labor which formed no part of its plan. Less attention also was given to 

 it, as being more properly a mineral than a geological product, in a survey where the subjects 

 arc divided as in this. 



In the course of the survey, numerous places were visited where ore was said to exist ; but 

 not one offered much evidence of profitable quantity, nor can any be mentioned which pro- 

 mised abundance. The localities are numerous where it exists in comparatively small quan- 

 tities, and some of these may not be far removed from large bodies which the future will 

 make known. 



Near Constantia furnace in Oswego, it was said to be in abundance, but was not examined. 

 Among the localities visited were the following : Below the outlet of Oneida lake, above the 

 rift ; near CoUiersville, in the low grounds of the valley, in Otsego coimty ; on the farm of 



