PREFACE. 



In the arrangement of the Geological Survey of New- York, the part assigned 

 me by the late Governor, the Hon. William L. Marcy, w^as the examination, 

 scientific description and chemical analysis of its mineral products, or w^hat was 

 underwood to be included under the term Mineralogy in its broadest acceptation. 

 This commission was continued by Governor Seward ; and the work now pre- 

 sented to the public, is the final result of my investigations. 



Desirous of following out to the fullest extent the views which were enter- 

 tained in regard to the department entrusted to me, the plan which I pursued 

 was, to visit the more interesting mineral districts, for the purpose of obtaining 

 illustrative specimens ; to determine with as much accuracy as was necessary, 

 the chemical composition of the most useful and interesting minerals and mineral 

 waters ; and finally to present detailed descriptions of all the minerals hitherto 

 found in the State, with notices of their localities and uses. 



The results of my labours, in regard to the analysis of useful minerals and 

 mineral waters, will be found in the first part of this work, entitled Economical 

 Mineralogy. In this, my object has been to give an extended and popular ac- 

 count of these products, with such remarks, either directly or indirectly con- 

 nected with the subject treated of, as I thought would be useful to those who are 

 engaged in the various manufactures dependent on them. 



The ores of iron, lead and manganese, gypsum, the water limestones, and 

 the mineral springs, have especially engaged my attention, and full details con- 

 cerning them will be found in t^ following pages. Impressed as I have been 



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