Highlands ofJVeiv-York and T^eio- Jersey. 29 



then spread upon a well-jointed inclined platform of wood, 

 and exposed to the action of air, sun, and moisture — the 

 sulphuret was changed to a sulphate of iron or copperas, 

 by receiving additional oxigen, and the salt conveyed in 

 solution to boilers by passing water over the bed. 



Many rich beds of iron ore situated in the Highlands, are 

 rendered useless for the forge by sulphur. It is said this 

 might be remedied by roasting with a moderate heat, pul- 

 verising, and then placing the ore in water for some months. 

 Graphite, or black lead, both foliated and compact is found 

 at Mount Dunderberg, and is observed at various places, 

 adjacent to the turnpike which crosses the mountains from 

 Colvill's landing to Smith's clove, and epidote, talc, and adu- 

 laria in the same neighbourhood. 



At Munro iron works, situated upon the river Ramapaugh 

 large plates of black mica crystallized in hexaedral form are 

 seen, sometimes a foot in diameter — compact feldspar and 

 epidote are noticed in the elevated primitive Highland ran- 

 ges, west of the transition district — gray compact limestone 

 is observed at Smith's clove, and at various parts of the 

 New-Jersey transition interval. In the primitive range, 

 situated in Morris County, west of Pompton plains called 

 Stonybrook mountains, chlorite slate is common — granular 

 limestone has recently been found in the same mountains. 

 Its colour is a clear white, and it admits of a good polish. 

 It is close grained and a nearly pure carbonate of lime, ap- 

 proaching the character of statuary marble. These beds 

 may be regarded as a continuation of the range of granular 

 limestone which accompanies with few interruptions the si- 

 liceous primitive from Canada to Virginia. From Stony- 

 brook mountains I have specimens of noble serpentine of a 

 bright green colour, admitting of a good polish. It is often 

 associated with beautiful amianthus and talc, alternating in 

 narrow veins. In the same vicinity is found a grayish white 

 marble, rendered porphyritic by embracing numerous grains 

 of noble serpentine, pretty equally disseminating through 

 the rock. It is hard, and admits of a good polish. In the 

 talc were observed metallic crystals, supposed to be chro- 

 mate of iron. From this last mentioned mineral is extrac- 

 ted an acid which united with lead, forms patent yellow, or 

 chromate of lead, a valuable pigment. Maryland is the on- 

 ly locality for chromate of iron in useful quantity hitherto 



