Vlil PREFACE. 



with the conviction that these must hereafter become important sources of wealth, 

 I could not doubt the propriety of devoting a large space to their consideration. 

 Those who are acquainted with the difficulties which attend investigations of this 

 kind, will, I hope, at least give me credit for industry in the execution of this 

 part of my trust. 



At the commencement of the Survey, few persons, I believe, were aware of 

 the mineral wealth of New- York, or of the number of species which it con- 

 tains. Such indeed is the extent of territory which the State embraces, and the 

 vast number of mineral localities which it contains, that I could do no more than 

 visit the most important ones. These were of course situated in the great pri- 

 mary regions of the northern and southern counties, although the western ones 

 also afforded rich supplies of species peculiar to their limestone and other for- 

 mations. 



The second part, entitled Descriptive Mineralogy, contains detailed de- 

 scriptions of the various species hitherto found in New- York, with all their varie- 

 ties, and notices of their principal localities. In preparing these descriptions, I 

 have freely consulted standard authorities ; while remarks upon such peculiarities 

 as our varieties present, have been introduced in their proper place. I may also 

 add, that even in those cases where all the varieties have not yet been found 

 within the limits of the State, I have still given the descriptions of them, in order 

 to render the work as complete as possible in regard to our minerals. 



A few species have been introduced, whose occurrence as New- York mine- 

 rals is still doubtful, or which require further examination ; such are Aluminite, 

 Arfvvedsonite, Achmite, &c. This course I thought less objectionable than the 

 omission of any species which really belongs to the State. I have also added a 

 list of such American minerals as have not heretofore been found within our 

 limits. 



As the crystalline forms of minerals are of great interest, and indeed consti- 

 tute a very important part of the science of mineralogy, I have paid much atten- 

 tion to the determination of those which have been noticed in this State. The 



