20 



mont are so numerous as to have attracted the attention of the 

 best naturalists of the world. There can be no doubt but the 

 thorough completion of the Geological Survey will bring to light 

 many valuable discoveries valuable in the two-fold view of econ- 

 omy and science. '-'Vermont," says President Hitchcock, " is 

 considered as the disputed ground in respect to certain problems 

 of sublime interest." The rock formations in Vermont are ex- 

 ceedingly complicated both in respect to their mineral composition 

 and to their geological order and age. While the greater part of 

 the rocks exhibit plains of sedimentary deposit and thus give 

 proof of an aqueous origin, they are also very crystalline in their 

 structure and indicate that during some period of their history 

 they have been subjected to a very powerful metamorphic agen- 

 cy. The series of rocks which are presented to the eye are in- 

 volved in so great obscurity in regard to their geological periods 

 or epochs as to have puzzled geologists for many years.* Taking 

 into view the adjacent parts of New York and New Hampshire, 

 we have three ranges of mountains nearly parallel : the Adi- 

 rondac on the West, the White Mountains on the East and the 

 Green Mountains lying between them separated from the former 

 by the valley of Lake Champlain, and from the latter by the val- 

 ley of the Connecticut river. The Adirondac and the White 

 Mountains differ entirely in their character from the Green Moun- 

 tains, for while the. two former consist principally of granite and 

 other igneous rocks, the latter, with the exception of a few trap 

 dykes and a range of serpentine, is composed of highly meta- 

 morphic and crystalline shales. 



Aside from the peculiarity of the rock formations, the Geology 

 of our State is interesting by reason of the numerous deposits of 

 marine shells of the pleistocene period some of which according 

 to the late State Naturalist, are more than two miles inland from 

 Lake Champlain, and, at least, two hundred feet above its level. 



The interest attached to the Geological Survey of a State so 

 rich in natural and mineral curiosities as Vermont, will increase 

 as the Survey advances. As the useful minerals continue to be 

 more generally understood and more freely developed, and while 

 the means of prosperous enterprize are continued to her citi- 



*See Appendix, No G and 7. 



