GEOLOGY OF THE WHITE MOUNTAIN DISTRICT. 219 



underlie the latter. In many regions the valleys are of anticlinal origin, 

 and, if these rocks occurred in such a district, the view might be tena- 

 ble. It does not seem to us, — for reasons to be stated elsewhere, — that 

 such a law of connection between stratigraphy and topography is of 

 universal application, and, furthermore, the observations of the actual 

 dips in the neighborhood are against that view. In coming up the river 

 from the Saco valley, after leaving the granite, the first dips are south- 

 easterly. Not very much is seen of this dip, since the strata possessing 

 it are covered by granite, but enough appears to make its occurrence 

 certain. But the north-westerly dip is common beyond, so that an anti- 

 clinal axis certainly occupies the valley below the labradorite, in agree- 

 ment with what is often the case in valleys elsewhere. Our studies lead 

 us to believe, also, that the range to the north-west, embracing the Web- 

 ster-Washington range, possesses an anticlinal structure. The details 

 mentioned previously concerning the strata up the streams to Mts. Clin- 

 ton and Pleasant show a prevailing north-westerly dip, with local varia- 

 tions. Thus, as advised at present, the outlier of labradorite seems to 

 occupy the country between two anticlinal axes, not necessarily the mid- 

 dle or synclinal line, but the upturned edges. In either case there would 

 be a great want of conformity between the two groups, the uppermost, or 

 the Labrador system, being the younger formation. 



The prevailing variety of rock in this basin is ossipyte. Prof. B. T. 

 Blanpied found the labradorite, when carefully separated from the chryso- 

 lite, to contain silica, 51.50; alumina, 25.90; peroxide of iron, 5.00; lime, 

 14.29; soda, 2.95; potash, .50 — total, 100.14. These results correspond 

 essentially with the analyses of the same mineral from Waterville (Vol. I, 

 pp. 37 and 39). The grains of magnetic iron were also observed. In 

 lithological appearance there is little difference between the localities, 

 save that the labradorite crystals from Mt. Washington river are better 

 characterized than those from Waterville. 



Many of the layers contain an abundance of hornblende, much more 

 so than at either of the Waterville areas. Large boulders of chryso- 

 litic sienite are common in the river, but their source has not been ascer- 

 tained. 



The locality may be reached easily, though it is desirable that those 

 who visit it be prepared to spend a night in camp. I have reached it by 



