M. Godon’s mineralogical observations. 131 
The numbers, in the table, refer to the corresponding numbers of the dif- 
ferent paragraphs of the geognostic description. 
For the simple minerals, I have adopted the nomenclature of Haiiy ; but, 
for greater clearness, I add, to cach species, a synonym, either vulgar, or adopt- 
ed from some known author. The word speczes must not be taken in too rig- 
orous a sense, particularly with regard to rocks. The divisions established, 
among natural beings, exist not a nature ; and are merely intended to facili 
tate their study, or to simplify the language. 
¥ 
I 
Vegetable earth. . Alluvial deposits. Waters. 
1, Some alluvial deposits, and the stratum, often light, of vegeta- 
a 
ble earth, excepted, the oston, and even the greater part 
i 
of Massachusetts, present, almost every where, the primordial soil to 
the sight. The country is not mountainous, but its surface is largely 
and often deeply undulated. The springs, which arise from the most 
elevated part of the ground, often unite in basons, sometimes sur. 
rounded by — and form a sas of ponds, which contribute to 
the embellishment of the 1 pe. The natural ee igation, which 
originates fom the even disposition of the , maintains a con- 
stant moistness, which renders the land fertile and fit for several kinds 
of culture. 
2, The alluvial deposits are commonly formed of a coarse quart- 
zose sand, often mixed with a proportion of clay sufficient to permit 
their being made directly into bricks. They include, almost always, 
a great quantity of fragments of rocks, the nature of which indicates 
their origin from the great masses, which form the frame of the coun- 
try we are describing. These alluvial: heaps repose sometimes on a 
stratum of blue clay ——— a —_ the: — 
iron and ee sii 
