28 Geology, Mineralogy^ Scenery, <^c. of the 



Gneiss was sometimes observed, but splitting badly is sel- 

 dom quarried. Sienite is often seen in every part of the 

 Highlands, and I have noticed in several instances in these 

 mountains well characterized primitive greenstone. 



In tiie transition section of the Highlands of New-Jersey, 

 graywacke and graywacke slate are the most common rocks. 

 The extensive ranges in Bergen and Morris counties, oi 

 Long poiid, RafFenberg, and Green pond mountains, for 

 miles, present stupendous mural precipices facing the east 

 of a redd^h brown graywacke, composed of red and white 

 quartz, red and gray jasper and indurated clay, embraced 

 in a base which has a slight argillaceous odour, but general- 

 ly composed of fine grains of the above mentioned minerals. 

 These rocks are stratified, inclining to the north-west at an 

 angle of about forty degrees. They are scattered in abun- 

 dance on the banks of the rapid Pequanack, from New- 

 foundland to Pompton. Graywacke in place is sometimes 

 observed resting on sienite adjacent to the river Pequanack. 

 The general course of the transition mountains, is from 

 north-east to south-west; and the average width of the 

 transition district, located between the primitive ranges is 

 six miles, and (he length between thirty and forty. 



Sulphate of barytes, and phosphate of lime are found at 

 Anthony's nose, a mountain situated on the east side of the 

 Hudson. Calc spar and asbestos are frequently seen. 

 There are several extensive beds of iron ore in the High- 

 lands of New-York and New-Jersey. This ore is the mag- 

 netic oxide, and is frequently granular. The most consid- 

 erable of these mines is worked four miles west of the 

 Hudson, in the Pompton mountains, near Rockaway, and 

 at Succasunna. The inexhaustible beds of ore at this last 

 mentioned place, the property of Governour Dickinson, pro- 

 duce the best iron manufactured from Highland ore — native 

 magnet is found near Ramapaugh works, at Succasunna, 

 and at Schooley's mountain. 



Sulphuret of iron abounds in various parts of the High- 

 lands. The most extensive bed I have observed is situa- 

 ted in Morris County, near the eastern base of copperas 

 mountain, and nearly opposite to Greenpond. Copperas 

 was manufactured at this place during the last war with 

 Great-Britain by the following process. A minute division 

 was made of the ore by grinding in a trough mill. It was 



