294 Mineralogicdl Journey. 



The locality in question is situated upon the farm of Mr. Chesley, 

 who lives upon the road leading from Paris to Buckfield, one mile 

 east of the village of Paris. The rock of the vicinity is graphic gran- 

 ite, and except where it breaks through the soil in large ledges, as it 

 does in several places, it is very much shattered by decomposi- 

 tion. This is particularly the case upon the farm of Mr. Ches- 

 ley. In the field where the minerals occur, angular fragments 

 of graphic granite, of all sizes, are seen protruding above the surface 

 of the ground ; and on digging, we find a soil apparently just formed, 

 consisting of gravel mostly derived from feldspar, and as yet, but 

 slightly discolored with vegetable mould. In the highest part of the 

 field, and just in front of a little wood, the granite makes its appear- 

 ance in a continuous mass, for the compass of a few square rods, and it 

 is here possessed of a higher degree of integrity. Such, however, is 

 the abundance of foreign substances which it contains, that its graphic 

 character is no longer obvious. It is here, that the Tourmalines and 

 other minerals, with the exception of the Rose Quartz, occur. When 

 the locality was first visited, large masses of Lepidolite, in some instan- 

 ces entirely coated with Rubellites, and loose crystals, and fragments 

 of crystals of the different colored Tourmalines, together with groups 

 of crystallized Quartz, were found dispersed over the surface of the 

 hill. These, however, have long since wholly disappeared ; and the 

 collector who is now in search of these minerals is obliged to lay open 

 tlie solid rock by the aid of gunpowder.* The granite is composed 

 chiefly of feldspar ; and on this account, is the more easily quarried. 

 It is traversed by several irregular veins of Mica and Lepidolite, the 

 latter of which are, occasionally, nearly a foot in width. These veins, 

 as well on account of the Mica and Lepidolite, as the substances they 

 embrace, are the principal objects of pursuit with the mineral- 

 ogist. 



The'Jtfica forms veins of six or eight inches in width, and exists in 

 large foliae, among which, small portions of quartz and feldspar are 

 interfused. When detached, it presents imperfectly formed rhom- 

 boidal crystals, with a tendency to the figure of the Mica prismatique. 

 Some of these attain a foot in length and seven or eight inches in 



* Mr. Chesley, with the same liberality which characterized his father while liv- 

 ing, is always ready, in the most obliging manner, to promote the objects which the 

 visitors of his place have in view ; and for a very reasonable compensation is accus- 

 tomed to undertake the necessary drilling and blasting. 



