24a. * Rocks and Minerals of Westfield. 
This vein abounds in crystals of 
1. Schorl, 1 inch in length, and varying from + to 1 inch in 
diameter, terminated by 3 faces, having the terminal edges 
truncated. 
2. Actynolite, of several varieties.is found connected with this 
bed. It is found in carbonate of lime, and massive, or asso- 
ciated with green talc. The most beautiful variety is the 
3. Fibrous Actynolite.—It is composed of small fibres, which 
easily separate by pressure between the fingers, and resem- 
bles asbestus. 
Another bed of serpentine occurs on the opposite side of 
the river, 1 mile north of this. It is the one mentioned by 
Professor Eaton, in his index, as found in granite, and so 
quoted by the Rev. E. Hitchcock, in Vol. VI. p. 227, of 
this Journal, and also in Cleaveland’s Mineralogy, p. 435. 
It is manifestly in a mica slate region, for this rock appears 
at the surface in all directions, from the serpentine. There are 
bowlders of granite scattered about, and perhapsa bed. But 
I can hardly persuade myself, that this serpentine is con- 
tained in granite; for then we shall have, in mica slate, a 
bed of granite containing a bed of serpentine. } 
This serpentine is black in the mass; thin edges transmit a 
ereenish light. It is ofa foliated structure, the surfaces of 
the lamine having nearly the lustre of hornblende. The 
eross fracture is dull anduneven. Sp. Grav. 2.6. When 
pulverized, it may be taken up by a magnet, like iron filings. 
I have serpentine, in my cabinet, from several localities ; 
none of the specimens are affected by the magnet. It 
seems to me, that serpentine of this structure, and having 
magnetical properties, should form a new variety, and be 
called magnetic serpentine. There is a yellowish green min- 
eral associated with this serpentine, its structure is somewhat 
foliated, diverging, and variously grouped, probably sahlite, 
and so called by some good mineralogists. 
On the banks of the river, between these two localities, 
are several rocks of tons weight, that to the eye of the be- 
holder, seem to be composed of a grayish white talc, contain- 
ing pieces of black serpentine, from 2 to 4 inches in length, 
and 1 in width. On breaking the rocks, and cutting away 
the talc, I found, irregularly 4 sided prisms, of a hair brown 
colour, hard enough to scratch glass feebly ; are they antho- 
phyllite ? 
