92 GEOLOGY OF OLD HAMPSHIEE COUNTY, MASS. 



exposed with a width of about 53 feet, when it is cut off by granite. It 

 shows distinct foHation, and is bordered on the west by a biotite-hornblende- 

 schist, which becomes in places a distinct gneiss. It is a black serpentine 

 abounding in the green foliated bastite to which the name mai-molite has 

 been given. 



THE WESTFIELD SERPENTINE AND MARBLE. 



The next outcrop of the serpentine is south of this point, across the 

 Little River, in the western edge of Westfield (bed No. 18). It has been 

 opened by the owners, the Westfield Marble and Sandstone Company, and 

 reported upon during the last year (1895) by Prof. W. 0. Crosby, who 

 considers the deposit valuable for verd-antique marble. He reports the 

 following section from east to west, with explanations: 



Section in the western edge of Westfield. 



Feet. 



1. Vein of coarse granite (pegmatite) 10 



2. Soapstone and serpentine, witli partings of mica-schist 



and veins of pegmatite 15 to 20 



3. Massive serpentinic marble (verd antique), with large 



crystals 15 to 20 



4. White marble, with thin layers or partings of serpentinic 



marble 15 



5. Banded serjjentiuic marble, consisting of very thin alter- 



nating layers of white marble and serpentine 15 to 20 



6. Shaly serpentine and marble and banded serpentinic 



marble 20 



7. Massive black and green serpentine 50 



8. Soapstone and serpentine, concealed 10 



9. Fibrolitic ' mica-schist and granite trace. 



The most interesting and valuable bed in this series is the verd antique marble 

 (No. 3). This is a very solid bed, and of fairly uniform character, considering the 

 coarse structure of the marble. The serpentine, which has evidently resulted from 

 the alteration of actinolite, is in the form of slender crystals from 1 to 3 inches in 

 length, lying at all angles in a matrix of white crystalline limestone. Near the east 

 side of the bed the structure is finer and somewhat banded, as in bed No. 5. This 

 verd-antique marble is a striking and, so far as I know, unique stone, of ornamental 

 character; and I can see no reason why it should not give satisfaction in use. 

 Although it would, I am confident, prove serviceable in exterior work, it is to be 

 especiaDy recommended for interior work. It is susceptible of a good and lasting 

 polish, and this, together with its unique, breccia-like structure, should insure a 

 demand for the stone when it is properly brought before the public. It is probable 



' This is cyanite. 



