E, Hitchcock on a Brown Coal Deposit in Brandon, Vi. 95 
Arr, XVI.— Description of a Brown Coal Deposit in Brandon, 
Vermont, with an attempt to determine the Geological Age of 
the principal Hematite Ore Beds in the United States ; by 
Epwarp Hircucock, D.D., LL.D., President of Amherst Col- 
lege, and Professor of Geology. 
In the autumn of 1851, Professor Shedd of Burlington, pre- 
sented me with a few specimens of beautifully preserved fruits 
from Brandon, Vermont. They were converted into Brown Coal, 
and retained exactly their original shape and markings. Early in 
the spring of 1852, I visited Brandon, and found that the fruits 
Were obtained from a bed of Brown Coal connected with the white 
clays and brown hematite of that place. I perceived at once 
that an interesting field was open before me; and ever since I 
have been endeavoring to explore it. Great difficulties presented 
themselves; and I have resorted to several gentlemen, both in 
this country and in Hurope, for aid. Their opinion has yet been 
obtained only in part. But there are several points of much 
interest to American geology, cleared up by what I have already 
ascertained. I have concluded, therefore, to give a brief account 
of this case ; hoping hereafter to make additions to it. 
, would here acknowledge my deep indebtedness to John 
Howe, Jt., the proprietor of this deposit of iron, clay, and brown 
Coal. Not only did he do all in his power to aid my investi- 
8atious upon the spot last spring; but since then he has sent 
» free of expense, numerous specimens of the frnits and the 
Coal ; especially at one time two barrels of the coal containing 
Net of Amherst College. de int 
~ T shall first give a description of the topography and geo os. 
ssociations of this carbonaceous deposit: next an account of 
the lignites and fossil fruits; and finally deduce from the facts 
on Seologieal inferences of importance. : 
~ £°pography and Geological Associations. 
Geologists sea that along the west base of the Green 
Aud Hoosac Mountains from Canada to New York occur numer- 
ous beds of brown compact and fibrous hematite iron ore. "That 
0 Brandon lies between two and three miles east of the village. 
“ltg easterly from the village, the surface rises slightly, and 
exhibits clay, drift, and limestone rock in place. According to 
my me irements with the aneroid barometer, Brandon village 
is 165 feet above the ocean, and the iron mine 520 feet above the 
Swe. A short distance east of the mine, the Green Mountains 
"ise rapidly. 
