GEOLOGY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY DISTRICT. 44 1 



disposed to doubt the reality of the connection, it may be said that all 

 the gneissoid quartzite of this region occurs along the eastern range, from 

 Otter pond to South Vernon, and is not found at all in connection with 

 the western range; also, the gneissoid quartzite is intimately associated 

 with hornblende schist, and is related to the Vernon gneiss; and all these 

 more crystalline layers are situated east of the pimpled mica schists with 

 staurolite. The fossiliferous locality is two miles distant, in the direction 

 of the dip from the nearest part of the South Vernon range. I have 

 separated areas of this gneissoid quartzite along the state line and east 

 of Bernardston village, upon the map, calling them Bethlehem, or the 

 equivalent of the Vernon area. I presume most of the quartzite, from 

 which these smaller areas have been separated, is essentially the same. 

 It is noticeable that hornblende occurs upon both sides of this range of 

 quartzite and gneiss, just as it encircles the Vernon and Hinsdale area 

 of gneiss. 



The quartzite next the crinoidal limestone usually dips 25° S. 35° E. 

 The strike very nearly points to a school-house on the east side of Fall 

 river. A short distance south the dip is more southerly. It occurs also 

 a quarter of a mile to the north of the limestone (No. 64), and is verti- 

 cal, with westerly-dipping slates on the east. On crossing the valley, a 

 quartzite is found (No. 69) behind the first dwelling above the school, 

 running into the hill as if it were making for the corresponding rock in 

 the west part of Vernon. The strike is about N. 50° E., and the strata 

 are vertical. It may be followed for half a mile (No. 63). Part of the 

 way it presents a precipitous slope, with many reticulated quartz veins. 

 The debris at the base of the cliff is too great to allow a view of the lime- 

 stone, if it exists, in the place corresponding to its position on the west 

 side of the valley. The rock is largely white and bluish-gray, not very 

 granular, mostly vitreous. On crossing towards the back road to Vernon 

 the quartzite and slate dip south-easterly. Quartzite also appears south 

 of the school-house, at No. Gy. There are no other indications of the 

 presence of this rock in the north part of the town. 



There is a second range of quartzite behind the limestone, towards 



West mountain, possessing an easterly dip. I find, among observations 



made in 1858, that there is a quartzite, dipping 60° westerly, some twenty 



rods north of the limestone. There is also a westerly-dipping breccia a 



VOL. II. 56 



