Geological Reports on the State of New York. 11 



from the earth, in sufficient volume to turn a light grist-mill. Such an 

 immense laboratory of sulphuric acid is here conducted by nature, that 

 all the water which supplies this perennial stream possesses acidity enough 

 to give the common test with violets, and to coagulate milk. Besides the 

 above, there are said to be several other sour springs in this vicinity.* 



" I have particularly examined both the liquid acid and the brownish 

 vegetable matter subjected to its action. 



" The liquid is transparent and colorless; and in the specimen upon 

 which I operated, had a specific gravity of 1.21304 at 60 F. It red- 

 dens litmus powerfully, has an intensely sour taste, causes a dense pre- 

 cipitate when added to muriate of barytes, but is not affected by nitrate 

 of silver. When ammonia is added to the liquid to saturation, a slight 

 precipitate of a reddish color is the result, and the clear solution is after- 

 wards also slightly affected by oxalate of ammonia. The oxide of iron and 

 lime indicated by the two latter tests are, however, in very small propor- 

 tion, as is evident from the fact that when the liquid is evaporated it 

 leaves only a trifling residuum. It is a nearly pure, though dilute, sul- 

 phuric acid, and not a solution of acid salts, as has been supposed ; for 

 the bases are in too minute proportions to warrant the latter opinion." 



" The occurrence of sulphuric acid in nature, in any thing like the pure 

 form which it here possesses, is of great interest, only a few localities, 

 and these rather doubtful, being hitherto known. An earth, somewhat 

 similar to that found in Byron, is said to exist in great quantities at a vil- 

 lage called Daulakie, in the south of Persia, between three and four days 

 journey from Bushire, on the Persian gulf The natives employ it as a 

 substitute for lemons and limes, in making their sherbets, of which con- 

 siderable quantities are drunk, they being prohibited the use of wine. On 

 analysis the acid was found to be the sulphuric, and this was united to 

 iron ; the solution in boiling water, when evaporated, yielding crystals 

 which seemed to be the acid sulphate of that metal. "t 



Sulphureous waters are found in various places on the Hudson, 

 in the counties of Onondaga, Niagara. Erie, Chautauque, Clinton, 

 and St. Lawrence, at Chitteningo, Sharon, Rickiield, Verona, near 

 Utica, and in many other places. 



Petrifying Springs. — These are chiefly solutions of carbonate 

 of lime by means of carbonic acid gas, and its well known effects 

 in the production of stalactites, tufa, and transition, are numerous 

 and conspicuous in this state. 



In this Journal, Vol. xxviii, p. 172, is described a great tufa- 

 ceous deposit in Schoharie county. In Herkimer county, near 

 the head of Otsquago creek, is a calcareous tufa with impressions 



* Eaton in Silliman's Journal, XV, 239. t Philosophical Magazine for 1824. 



