coos AND ESSEX DISTRICT. 



7^ 



On account of this rock having formerly been quarried, — for it was used 

 in the construction of the jDiers of the railway bridge at North Strat- 

 ford, — we were able to examine large detached masses, which revealed 

 the true character of the rock. Weathering affects this rock to a great 

 depth. The color of the feldspar is changed to dull gray, though it has 

 no decided tendency to crumble. The whole aspect of the rock is so 

 unlike the original, that one would hardly suspect that a rock so compact 

 and of such a color should be found beneath the weathered surface. 



Immediately south of the Grand Trunk Railway there is a large area 

 that embraces several mountains of considerable height. The mountains 

 are known generally as the Pilot range. The highest peak is Starr Kino-, 

 and it is just north of the Waumbek house. Embraced in this area is 

 the country extending from Stark station south nearly to the Waumbek 

 house in Jefferson, and east from the Connecticut, from a point just 

 above Northumberland falls, to the head waters of the UiDper Ammo- 

 noosuc. Everywhere there are high mountain ridges covered with 

 forests, and often these ridges rise in sharp conical peaks, while in many 

 places there are steep slopes and precipitous walls of rock. So marked 

 are these ridges and mountains, that one can hardly be mistaken as to 

 those that are composed of porphyrite, although they are many miles 

 distant. There are two small areas of porphyrite on the west, that are 

 separated by a band of schist from the larger area eastward. Mt. Lyon, 

 formerly known as Cape Horn, and a hill immediately east of Groveton, 

 are the areas indicated. Mt. Lyon, though not so high as some of the 

 other peaks, yet is more noticeable, since it stands out so prominently 

 from the other mountains, and the valley of the Connecticut westward 

 makes it seem to rise abruptly from a plane. It can be seen from Mt. 

 Moosilauke, and from many places along the Connecticut valley. The 

 whole mass of the mountain is a compact feldspar porphyry; and on 

 the east side there is a precipitous wall of rock, from fifty to two hun- 

 dred feet in height, extending for nearly a mile. The jointed structure, 

 of the rock gives it the appearance of stratification, and the composition 

 is as follows: 



Silica, ........... 62.2 



Alumina, ........... 28. 



Iron oxyd, .......... tr. 



