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Geological Survey of the State of New York. | 83 
* Could we establish the connexion, now supposed, between the e 
rocks of St. Lawrence and Jefferson, and those of the counties 
south, it would bean important link in the chain of facts connect- 
__. ing the origin offic rocks, the relative period of deposits, the 
mR slope of the country, the direction of the valleys, in fine, it would . 
be the gathering up of a mass of the history of ancient times, 
of the most interesting character and bearing generally on the 
geology of the state.” 
Mr. Vanuxem’s report.is chiefly of Lewis county, with a more 
particular notice of the rocks found in his district, than he has 
before given. 
The geologists of the third and fourth districts, have made fre- 
quent reference to the agency of igneous causes, to account for 
many of the phenomena observed in their field of observation. 
Among these, none are more curious than the following, describ- 
ed by Mr. Vanuxem. 
Speaking of the rock at Middleville, near Little Falls, which 
there “rests immediately upon the primary,” he says:—‘ The 
‘calciferous sandrock’ in many localities abounds with cavities 
large and small, often containing rock erystals, and small quanti- 
ties of anthracite coal. Frequently the large cavities, which are 
in part filled with crystals, have a covering of coal, which is flat- 
tened or depressed towards the center, showing that the coal was 
inasoft or yielding state. In other cavities, the coal is sometimes 
found in the form of drops or buttons. These facts show that 
the coal was once bituminous, and has by heat been changed to 
anthracite. In some of the cavities, the whole of the crystals, 
amounting to a peck or more, have their angles and edges round- 
ed from friction, either from water having entered with a circular 
Motion, or that a motion of the kind had originated from either 
Vapor or gas. That this rounding of the angles and edges of the 
crystals was anterior to the solidification of the coaly matter, is 
evident from the fact of the anthracite covering in the manner 
above mentioned, the crystals which had been rounded by rub- 
bing one against another.” 
The configuration of the surface of Lewis county, is worthy 
of remark. The Black river, which enters it on the southeast, 
Tuns northwest, drains the whole county, divides it into two 
hearly equal portions, and is the line of separation between the 
primary rocks on the east, with its barren soil and extensive dilu- 
