356 Description of the Bare Hills. 



tions, the result of the first attempts to obtain the chromate of iron, 

 and the quantity here obtained was considerable. The course of 

 the vein of chrome, at this point, seemed to correspond with the slope 

 of the hill, and was at the depth of about ten feet. The greater part 

 of it lay between the rocks, in a gangue of indurated talc steatite, 

 mixed with talc, and variously colored by the oxide of chrome, or, 

 perhaps the chromic acid, as some parts were of a pale, others 

 of a beautiful deep green, others still of a pink, or deep crim- 

 son, variegated by, or invested, on one or more sides, with the sili- 

 cate of magnesia. It was, from specimens obtained at this locality, 

 that I ascertained, some years since, the existence of what has been 

 called vermicular talc. This curious substance is not easily detect- 

 ed in the examination of a specimen, although, I have reason to be- 

 lieve, it is very prevalent in the rocks of Bare Hills. Yet it was on- 

 ly by directing the flame of the blow pipe upon the deep pink col- 

 ored talc, that it was observed, by a kind of intumescence, similar to 

 that of borate of soda under the blow pipe ; with this difference, 

 however, that the talc is thrown off in the form and with the mo- 

 tions of small worms. Hence, probably, the name given it, and 

 which appears by no means, inappropriate. 



Passing now over the hill to the west, or returning down the -rav- 

 ine to the brook, and ascending it forty dr fifty rods, we come to a 

 third ravine stretching away to the south, to the skirt of a wood where 

 it commences. 



Upon the brow of the hills, both upon the right and left hand, in 

 ascending the ravine, excavations have been made at M N, and O, 

 in search of chrome, but the prospect being unfavorable, they were 

 abandoned. There may be obtained, however, at these points, in 

 abundance, beautiful specimens of the granular chromate of iron, in 

 a compact indurated talc steatite, of a whitish or straw color, which, 

 contrasted with the black grains of chrome, gives the specimen an 

 agreeable aspect. Several interesting minerals, as red and white 

 lithomarge, white and green foliated talc steatite, silicate of magnesia, 

 &c. were here thrown out. 



This ravine, in particular, has been rendered interesting, (and is 

 no less so at present) in other respects. In traversing up the stream 

 from the bridge, a number of years since, and at the point at which 

 the little run of water in the ravine forms a junction with the brooks, 

 I found a singular piece of granite, composed of white quartz, white 

 and flesh colored feldspar, handsome spiculse of green hornblende, 



