Kotice of Flexible and Elastic Marble, 241 



strongest shells and cannon. Indeed, as we have reason to 

 believe that there is no force capable of confining it, it cer- 

 tainly is not unphilosophical to suppose that rocks of a very 

 large size are often nooved by it. 



I remain yours respectfully, 



CHARLES A. LEE» 

 Salisbury, April 6, 1825. 



Art. W.-^J^oiice of the flexible or elastic Marble of Berk- 

 shire County ; by Professor C. Dewey. 



Some account of this marble was given to the public by 

 Dr. Meade, in Bruce's Mineralogical Journal. A considera-^ 

 ble quantity of this substance has since been found, and a 

 notice of some large slabs of it was published a few years 

 since by Dr. Mitchill. ' Till lately it has been found chiefly 

 in West Stockbridge and Lanesborough. It is now found 

 in New Ashford in a quarry extensively wrought- I have 

 procured three fine specimens of it, in slabs from five to six 

 feet in length, and seven inches in width. Its flexibility and 

 elasticity may be shown as it stands upon one end, by ap- 

 plying a moderate force to the middle or the other end. Its 

 flexibility is seen too by supporting the ends of it in a hori- 

 zontal position upon blocks. 



This marble has various colours — nearly white, with a 

 reddish tinge, gray, and dove-coloured. Some of it has a 

 fine grain; other specimens are coarsely granular, and have 

 a loose texture. It is not uncommon for one side of a 

 large block to be flexible, while the other part is destitute of 

 this property. It takes a good polish, and appears to be 

 carbonate of lime, and not a magnesian carbonate. 



It is well known that Dolomieu attributed the flexibility 

 of the marble he examined to its exsiccation^ and that Belle- 

 vue ascertained that unelastic marble might be made elastic 

 by exsiccation. The flexible marble of this county, how- 

 ever, loses this property in part on becoming dry. When it 

 is made thoroughly wet by the operation of sawing or of pol- 

 ishing, it must be. handled with great care to prevent its 

 breaking, and the large slabs of ic cannot be raised with 



Vol. IX.— No. 2, 3t 



