Reports on the Geology of the State of Maine. 149 



covery which has as yet been made only in one place in the Uni- 

 ted States,^ and is there confined to a few single crystals. The 

 discovery of gold was announced some time since, and specimens 

 were sent to Prof. Cleaveland for examination, said to have been 

 found at Albion. It proved to be an alloy of gold and silver ; 

 but it is the opinion of Dr. Jackson, confirmed by persons resi- 

 ding near the locality, that the specimens were of foreign origin, 

 and that some deception had been practised. 



Towards the eastern part of the State, the transition and sec- 

 ondary rocks are predominant, forming a large extent of the sea- 

 coast, and extending northerly to the boimdary line of Canada, 

 and into the disputed territory, being rarely broken in their con- 

 tinuity by the old rocks, excepting one or two isolated moun- 

 tains. Among these are limestone, containing marine fossil 

 shells, sandstone, calciferous slate, graywacke, breccias, and all 

 the varieties of trap rock. This section of country is represent- 

 ed as being more valuable in an agricultural point of view than 

 any other in the State, and also as possessing local advantages 

 over any other in reference to its commercial and manufacturing 

 interests. It was here that the discovery of coal became a sub- 

 ject of great importance. Dr. Jackson states, that " all the char- 

 acteristics of the regular anthracite coal formation exhibit them- 

 selves over a great belt of country, from the Suboois to the 

 Aroostook and St. John's, and extend to the Temiscuata Lake, 

 near the frontiers of Canada." The new red sandstone on the 

 St. Croix River, was found to be connected with that of New 

 Brunswick, which contains the coal measures of Grand Lake, 

 and is identical with that in which the gypsum and bituminous 

 coal of Nova Scotia are found ; but no beds of either varieties of 

 coal or of gypsumf were discovered, and Dr. Jackson thinks it 

 probable that some of the members of the bituminous coal series 

 are wanting, while the anthracite region, owing to the thick al- 

 luvial deposits that overlay the strata, and the unbroken forests, 

 has not received the careful examination which he would have 

 been glad to have given it. He does not propose boring, as the 

 readiest means of discovery, the dip of the rocks being generally 



* Goshen, Massachusetts, discovered by Professor Hitchcock. 



t In New Brunswick, just beyond the eastern line of the disputed lands, ex- 

 tensive deposits of red and white gypsum were visited by Dr. Jackson. He ob- 

 serves, that as it is subject to no duty, it is almost as valuable to Maine as if it 

 occurred within the State. 



