GEOLOGY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY DISTRICT. 32/ 



sixty feet. On the north side the limestone forms a precipice of twenty- 

 feet, in consequence of excavations. It is an excellent locality for large 

 crinoidal stem fragments. In contact with it, on the section line, is a 

 slate dipping 80° S. 30° E. I understand this dip, as it involves the 

 limestone, also, to be an inversion. The Lyman schist and Helderberg 

 here adjoin each other without the intervention of the quartzite. I find 

 it also stated in my note-book, that a chloritic rock and a rough mixture 

 of quartz and feldspar occur with the limestone at the kiln, perhaps as 

 horses, to use a mining term ; and also the fact of a change of a quadrant 

 in the strike, in a few rods' distance. The overlying slate is seen to best 

 advantage in descending the hill toward Littleton. It is rather dark, soft, 

 splits readily, and contains fucoids and markings like CJiondntes, and 

 dips south-east. The top of this hill is an excellent place to observe 

 contorted strata; and, on account of their variation in position, it is diffi- 

 cult to be satisfied with any interpretation of them, 



I do not suppose that all the facts are indicated by so even a synclinal 

 as appears in the figure. There may be hummocks of underlying rocks 

 to disturb the continuity; and the strata are certainly contorted. The 

 limestone was not observed to the east of Mr. Burnham's house ; but, as 

 the sandstone beyond has a small reverse dip, we may presume that the 

 limestone changes with it. Still farther to the south-east gneiss occurs. 

 The country is wooded, and slopes rapidly, and would not be likely to 

 afford good ledge exposures.* 



A mile to the south-west a more satisfactory section may be obtained 

 (Fig. 37), so far as the position of the strata is concerned ; but the lime- 

 stone has not been observed. The west end lies in a valley, a tributary 

 of Parker brook ; and the rock is chiefly the chloritic rock of the Lisbon 

 group, dipping a few degrees, S. 20° to 30° E. The ground is cleared, 

 and the ledges common. The junction between this rock and the slates 

 can be seen to the best advantage near A. Mills's house. At the house 

 the slates dip 85° N. 20° W., and a short distance south-east 70° S. 30° 

 E., showing a small synclinal, where the rock was crowded hard. The 



* Fig. 36 was constructed from fragmentary observations obtained at two different visits, and was based partly 

 upon theory. It was drawn several years since. Having had an opportunity to examine the rocks again, though 

 not sufficiently to thoroughly understand them, I will add in Fig. 36a, to be placed upon some plate further on, a 

 new delineation of the order and position of the strata east of Closson's house. The slates will there appear to 

 underlie the Helderberg series, as I found them in the hill south of the house to dip 70° S. 70° W. and, on top, 

 N. 38° E. The sandstone may be five hundred feet thick. 



