Miscellaneous Localities of Minerals. 13 
6. Salphuret of Iron. Considerable quantities of this are 
found in almost every town through which the first range of 
mountains east of Connecticut river passes. 
In Monson, it is found in regular crystals, and also scat- 
tered in an irregular manner through quartz and mica slate 
rocks. 
In Stafford it is abundant in different parts of the town, 
but particularly about the region of the springs. 
In Somers, considerable quantities of it are found on the 
soap-stone mountains, traversing the rock in veins, in differ- 
ent directions. When first broken, it exhibits an uncom- 
mon brilliancy ; but after being exposed to the air for a short 
time, a white erust of Sulphate of Irun is formed. 
Connected with these localities of the sulphuret of 
fron is a circumstance worthy of notice: it is, if I 
may use the expression, the existence of a sort of minia- 
ture volcanoes. The late Dr. Dwight, in his Travels, 
Vol. II. p. 203, in his description of Stafford, makes mention 
of a volcanic eruption, reported to have taken place in that 
town. The spot alluded to is a high rock forming the west- 
ern bank of the valley of the Willimantic, and distant nearly 
a mile from the springs. Similar eruptions are said to have 
taken place on the mountain that has been named in Somers. 
After a long continued rain, it is said by some of the inhabit- 
ants living near the place, that reports have been heard from 
the mountain, in frequent succession, louder than that of 
musketry. On examining this rock, not long since, a small 
hole, of about an inch and a fourth in diameter, was found, 
which extended to a considerable depth into a bed of the 
iron ore. The mouth of this hole was extended in the form 
of a tunnel, and was filled with leaves, earth, and a mixture 
of the sulphate of iron. Eruptions of the kind mentioned, 
have probably taken place on this spot. In Monson, also, it 
is said that some years since, a similar eruption took place 
on a spot which abounds with this mineral, and there are 
not wanting indications of the truth of the story A recent 
account, we have had in the public prints, of a volcanic erup- 
tion, in some town, in the state of New-York, may perhaps 
be explained in the same manner. 
7. Magnetic Iron.—This is found in abundance scattered 
through the gneiss rock, in Monson. A specimen also | 
have in my possession, of the size of a hen’s egg, taken from 
among the gravel stones of an old field in Palmer. 
