6 Geology, fyc. of the Connecticut. 



he does not occur in the form of beds or veins. We aj-e 

 not yet, however, prepared to believe any one could con- 

 clude that it does. East-Haven granite, Black Mountain, 

 a part of Leverett range, he. stand as yet in the way of 

 such a supposition. Still less are we ready to adopt the re- 

 cent opinion of a distinguished European geologist,* that 

 granite is not a primitive rock, and that the only two rocks 

 that are so, are mica slate and gneiss! 



Thus have we in New-England, as in the east of Ireland, 

 granite of a decided character alternating with mica slate. 

 But this ceases to excite any surprize, since Von Buch and 

 and Jameson have given us an account of the strata of Chris- 

 tiana and Haddington.! 



The texture of the South Hampton granite is generally 

 rather coarse. There is, however, in this respect, a great 

 variety. The felspar is usually of a fine wnite colour, and 

 the quartz and mica a light gray. I do not here, however, 

 speak of the granitic veins, some of which traverse the 

 granite itself, and the felspar of which is sometimes flesh 

 coloured. The beds of the South Hampton granite are 

 not rich in minerals, except the lead mine in that town. 

 The veins in this rock, however, contain the fine tourmalines 

 and beryls of Chesterfield, and Goshen, and Haddam. 



Black Mountain. 



This lies in Dummerston, Vermont, and consists of gran- 

 ite. A geologist standing in Brattleborough on the argillite 

 is surprized on looking northwesterly, and seeing only four 

 or five miles distant, an abrupt mountain 500 or 600 feet 



* Dr, Borre. 



t Porphyry in immense mountains reposing upon lime stone full of petri- 

 factions ; a sienite over this porphyry, consisting almost entirely of coarse 

 granular felspar, and in the same manner, a granite not different in its 

 composition from the granite of the oldest mountains — granite above transi- 

 tion limestone ! Granite as a member of the transition formation !" — Kon 

 Buch^s Travels in Jforwai/, p, 45. 



Order of the transition rocks around Chrisliana, beginning at the top and 

 reckoning dowmvards. 

 1. Zircon sienite. 2. Granite. 3. Porphyry. 4. Sand stone. 5. Flinty slate. 

 6. Compact gray Wacke. 7. Compact slate and black orthoceratite lime- 

 stone. S.Granite. 9. Clay slate and limestone, probably. 10, Gneiss. — Ibd. 



