278 



DESCRIPTIVE MINERALOGY. 



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M 



In the town of Rossie, two miles north of the village of Somerville, there is a locality of a 

 very remarkable pale yellow and soft serpentine, which is found both massive and crystallized. 



The crystals are variously modi- 

 Fig. 187. Fig. 188. Fig. 189. g^j^ y^^j^ ^g -^ ^^^161 cases, they 



are seldom sufficiently perfect or 

 well defined for accurate measure- 

 ment. The general . outline of 

 M some of these forms, however, may 



be easily determined. 



Figures 187, 188, 189, repre- 

 sent some of the modifications of 



u 



the crystalline forms which have been observed in this county. 



Warren County. Beautiful serpentine, of a yellowish green colour, occurs at Johnsburgh ; 

 and verd antique has also been found, equalling in beauty, whether the colours or polish be 

 taken into the account, that which has been obtained in any part of the State. It is probable 

 that when this county comes to be more thoroughly explored, it will be found to contain many 

 interesting localities of the mineral in question. 



Washington County. At the " Shelving rock" on Lake George, in the town of Fort- 

 Ann, fourteen miles north of Caldwell, serpentine is found in white limestone. It is some- 

 times translucent and of a yellowish green colour, and passes by imperceptible gradations 

 into a soft grey soapstone, of which there seems to be a considerable bed. The serpentine 

 is often in small grains and spots in the limestone, and it may be sufficiently abundant to 

 possess value as a marble. 



Westchester County. Serpentine, in almost every variety, both of colour and structure, 

 is found on Davenport's neck, about a mile and a half southeast of the village of New-Ro- 

 chelle. It contains veins of magnesite, hornstone, calcedony, tremolite, and occasionally 

 grains of chrome iron ore. This locality furnishes fine specimens for the cabinet; but 

 although the mineral is abundant, it is so constantly traversed by veins of soft magnesite, 

 asbestus, etc., as to render it almost impossible to obtain blocks of large size, which will 

 answer as an ornamental marble. 



Two miles north of the village of Rye, there are beds of serpentine, which is usually of 

 an oil-green colour. It often has dark coloured grains of magnetic or chrome iron ore. 

 Veins of magnesite also traverse the serpentine in various directions. These are sometimes 

 several inches in width, and are made up of small rounded masses of this mineral, loosely 

 cemented together by hydrate and carbonate of magnesia. Small specimens of this serpen- 

 tine, as well as that at Davenport's neck, receive a good polish ; but it is impossible to obtain 

 large blocks free from cracks, and those veins of other minerals which render it useless as a 

 marble. 



The mineralogist, who is disposed to extend the number of species and varieties, will find, 

 at both the localities just described, abundant opportunities for this purpose. Most of the 

 species and varieties now included under the general names of serpentine and magnesite, may 



