Geology of Massachusetts. 65 
very extensive, and probably it is not confined exclusively to the tal- 
cose slate formation; for New Fane, I believe, contains but little of 
this rock. -The region west of Somerset is little known: the iron 
mine there, lies at the foot of the Green Mountains, and it is chiefly a 
mountain wilderness for sixteen or seventeen miles west of this spot. 
The talcose slate formation, containing the iron and gold in Som- 
erset, extends southerly, nearly across the state of Massachusetts ; 
passing through the towns of Rowe, Charlemont, the settlement called 
Zoar, Florida, Savoy, Hawley, Plainfield, Cummington, Worthington, 
Middlefield, &c. Indeed, I know of no place, where the formation 
is so perfectly developed in its characters, as in Hawley and Plain- 
field. ‘There is then, surely, as much ground for presuming that 
gold will be found in Massachusetts, as there was for predicting its 
discovery in Vermont. If an iron mine and porous quartz, with ox- 
ide of iron, be necessary, we have these in Hawley, in the talcose 
slate. And it ought to be recollected, that the Vermont gold was 
found at the source of Deerfield river, and that this stream runs di- 
rectly south into Massachusetts; and it would be rather strange, if 
so violent a torrent did not carry some of the diluvium, containing 
gold, at least as far as the limits of this state. The place where I sup- 
pose gold might be found, in Massachusetts, would be in the vicinity of 
the Hawley iron mine, or the Plainfield beds of manganese, or along 
the banks of Deerfield river, in Monroe, Florida, Zoar and Charle- 
mont: nor should the region around the limestone and iron ore, in 
Bernardston, be forgotten, in an examination for this metal, although 
the rock there is not talcose slate. ‘Talcose slate occurs also in 
many other places in the state; particularly in Berkshire county, on 
the Taconnic range of mountains, Saddle mountain, and other emin- 
ences; and here also are porous quartz and oxide of iron. I have 
found time to make only a slight examination for gold, in one or two 
of the places above mentioned.. The surest method of determining 
the point, would be to obtain some one, who is conversant with the 
gold regions at the South, and with the mode of washing it, to exam- 
ine the places I have mentioned. It may indeed be doubtful, whether 
the discovery of gold would be a public benefit; since, as your Ex- 
cellency has well observed, it might lead to “the greedy pursuit of 
this uncertain gain, and to the sure sacrifice of habits of industry and 
economy, and virtuous self-denial, which the ordinary pursuits and 
- requirements of business induce. We may doubt even, whether the 
grass-covered hills of our own New England, are not a better source 
Vou. XXII.—No. 1. 9 
