Description of the Bare Hills. 349 



Art. XVllI. — Description of the Bare Hills near Baltimore ; by 

 H. H. Hayden, M. D. 



In the year 1810 and at the particular request of the Editor of a 

 Periodical Journal (" the Baltimore Medical and Philosophical Ly- 

 ceum") I undertook to give a Mineralogical and Geological descrip- 

 tion of the country surrounding Baltimore, to the extent of about 

 nine miles. This, although an imperfect sketch, embraced that in- 

 teresting region, commonly and very appropriately called, the Bare 

 Hills, the description of which was subsequently republished in Dr. 

 Bruce's Journal. 



As my knowledge of this region was, at that time, superficial, 

 and as I have since repeatedly visited, and carefully examined al- 

 most every part of it and have discovered some interesting minerals, 

 not before known to exist there ; and moreover, as this district, on 

 account of the variety and character of its minerals, has excited no 

 small degree of interest among American mineralogists, I have ven- 

 tured to offer you another, and I trust a much more perfect descrip- 

 tion ; in the hope, that those who may hereafter visit this district, 

 may, with this aid, find the several localities, without fatigue and 

 trouble. 



With this view I send yon a sketch of the district, as correct, I 

 believe, as could well be made without an actual survey. Upon this 

 sketch I have endeavored to designate all the interesting points, and 

 should you deem it in any degree valuable, it is at your disposal. 



The district which I propose to describe, has, I believe, long been 

 known as the Barrens, or Barren Fields ; but, for many years past, 

 it has been called the " Bare Hills." 



Until the year 1808 or 1810, little was known of the mineralo- 

 gical character of these hills, and liitle else was obvious to the trav- 

 eler besides their repulsive aspect. About this time, the chromate of 

 iron, in small irregular or rolled masses, was discovered in one of the 

 deep ravines, by Mr. Henfrey, a gentleman who it is believed, was 

 the discoverer of chrome, titanium, and several other interesting min- 

 erals, in this part of the country. Subsequently, and particularly 

 since the commencement of regular operations for obtaining chro- 

 mate of iron, this district has excited, especially among mineralo- 

 gists, a degree of interest not surpassed, perhaps, in the case of any 

 locality in the United States. 



Vol. XXIV.— No, 2. 45 



