24 Coal Formations in the State of New York. 



It now remains to present a summary view of the evidences for and 

 against the prospect of finding coal in large beds beneath the salifer- 

 oLis rock. 



First — The same variety of coal which is found at Carbondale, 

 and other coal beds in that range, is found in the same continuous 

 rock along the foot of the Catskill mountains, and in numerous other 

 localities ', but the beds are subjected to the same diminution in thick- 

 ness as mentioned in tracing the bituminous coal formation along 

 the banks of the western lakes : so far this formation presents the 

 same forbidding features. But it must be observed that the salif- 

 erous rock does not assume its peculiar characters, such as its marly 

 slate alternations, blue and grey spots, and other variegated lines, &.c. 

 further east than the town of Vernon, about twenty miles west of Uti- 

 ca. Here too the salt springs commence, and continue in uninter- 

 rupted series to the Niagara river. This same saliferous rock forms 

 the roof of most of the great coal measures of Europe, where it is 

 the floor of the salt mines and springs. Conglomerate rocks, such 

 as that which underlays the saliferous rock in this state, generally ac- 

 company the slate rock which embraces the coal. 



One of the strongest indications of the presence of coal beneath 

 the saliferous rock, remains to be mentioned. It is the production of 

 carburetted hydrogen gas, which issues from beneath the saliferous 

 rock in various parts of that district. The most easterly point where 

 this gas has been observed, is near the most easterly salt spring which 

 issues from this rock. The spring is near Vernon center, and the 

 place whence the gas issues, is one mile west of Vernon village. 

 The same gas issues from beneath the same rock, at a place call- 

 ed Gasport, six miles east of Lockport, in the bed of the canal, 

 also near the village of Canandaigua, and near Cayuga lake. Sev- 

 eral other places have been mentioned, but these have been careful- 

 ly examined and minutely described. The production of a similar 

 gas is considered by all geologists as referable to no other origin but 

 that of fossil coal. If we are to reason from analogy, we may be 

 justified in venturing an opinion, that borings for coal made near the 

 the places where this gas issues from beneath the saliferous rock, 

 might be attended with success. And it may be added, that if 

 coal should be found beneath the saliferous rock, it would probably 

 be of the bituminous kind, notwithstanding the same slate rock em- 

 braces coal destitute of bitumen in the state oi" Pennsylvania ; for 

 the European slate rock, which is equivalent to this, always contains 

 bituminous coal, when similarly situated. 



