HYDROUS SULPHATE OF LIME, OR GYPSUM. M 



Sulphate of lime, 71.75 



Carbonate of lime, 21.65 



Clay, coloured by oxide of iron, 6. 60 



In regard to the above quarries, Mr. Vanuxem remarks, that they lie farther to the south 

 than any known in the district ; extending with the lower deposit found at Montezuma, along 

 a north and south line of about thirteen miles. For quality, they are superior to any in the 

 district; the masses are also larger, yielding often from 300 to 1000 tons. These quarries 

 fmrnish about 10,000 tons annually ; and the value, delivered at the head of the lake, is from 

 $1 .50 to $2.00 per ton.' 



• 



Specimens of selenite have been found in the clay near Hudson, in Columbia County. 



Genesee County. Beds of gypsum have been found in various parts of this county, 

 especially in the northern part of Leroy and Stafford, and in the western part of Elba. The 

 gypsum at the former of these localities, is often free from admixture of clay ; but usually it 

 is more impure, and when exposed to the atmosphere, crumbles rapidly. The masses are 

 described by Mr. Hall as being more or less spherical ; the surrounding rocks being raised in 

 the centre, and presenting a fractured convex surface, dipping on every side of the mass. 

 According to his estimate, the different plaster beds in this county yield about three thousand 

 tons jmnually. 



Herkimer County. The west end of the town of Stark in this county, is the most eastern 

 point at which gypsum has been found in any great abundance. According to Mr. Vanuxem, 

 it occurs in a white sandstone, the grey band of Prof. Eaton ; and he represents it as being 

 white, and equal to the Nova-Scotia both before and after calcination. From twenty to thirty 

 tons had been obtained by Mr. Crill, the proprietor, during the summer of 1837. Since that 

 time, I had received no information in regard to this locality. 



In the cabinet of the Albany Institute, there is a specimen of crystalUzed g)rpsum from 

 Danube in this county ; but I am not able to say whether it occurs there in any abundance. 



Livingston County. Beds of this mineral, in almost all its varieties, occur in various 

 parts of this county, as in Caledonia, Leicester and Mount-Morris ; but I have no means of 

 determining their value. 



Madison County. It was here that gypsum was first ascertained to be one of the impor- 

 tant mineral products of New- York. All the quarries at present knovra are south of the Erie' 

 canal, in the towns of Sullivan and Lenox, where there are several which are still actively 

 worked. The old Sullivan or Patrick bed, which was the first that was discovered in Western 

 New- York, is in the town of Sullivan. 



The gypsum found in this county is sometimes foliated and granular, but usually it belongs 



* Vanuxem, New-York Geological Reports, 1839. 



