162 Association of American Geologists. 



tremolite, from the town of Warren, N. H. ; the mass yields 

 from 6 to 12 per cent, of metallic copper. Recent bituminous 

 coal from the vicinity of Newfield, Maine, taken from a peat bed. 

 New red sandstone from Tobig river, in New Brunswick, con- 

 taining about one half its weight of gypsum. Syphonia, a fos- 

 sil-like substance with tubulse running through them and assum- 

 ing varions forms. They were supposed to be concretions formed 

 around twigs and roots of trees or other organic matter. 



Dr. L. C. Beck read a paper " On the Sulphur Springs of the 

 State of New York." 



In this paper the author noticed, 1st. The geographical range of these 

 springs,- their geological positions and associations. Under this head it 

 was stated that they are found in almost every formation, from the slates 

 of the Hudson river to the shales of Erie and Chatauque county, having 

 a range over nearly the whole state, and being found in almost every 

 county. 2d. The amount of gaseous matter evolved by these springs. 

 This cannot be correctly ascertained, but from many facts stated by the 

 author, there can be no doubt of its vast quantity. Some instances were 

 mentioned in which large streams and ponds were impregnated with sul- 

 phuretted hydrogen. It was also remarked, that independently of the 

 amount of gas which is held in solution by the waters of these springs, 

 there is often a flow of gas which seems to be undissolved or uncombined. 

 3d. Some facts were stated in regard to the uniformity in the composition 

 of these springs. In all cases in which they have been examined, they 

 contain, in addition to the sulphuretted hydrogen, a small proportion of 

 carbonic acid. The solid matters are almost invariably sulphates of lime 

 and magnesia, with smaller proportions of carbonate of lime, and occa- 

 sionally sulphate of soda. It was especially observed that sulphate of 

 iron is very rarely found among the solid ingredients of these waters. 

 Common salt is often found in the sulphur springs which occur in the vi- 

 cinity of the Onondago brine springs. 4th. The author next adverted 

 to the observations which had been made in regard to the temperature of 

 the New York sulphur springs. Although these have not yet been very 

 extensively conducted, those which have been made seem to warrant the 

 inference that the temperature of these springs is somewhat higher (say 

 1° to 3°) than that of the mean temperature of the localities in which 

 they are found. 



The author then proceeded to examine the theories which have been 

 proposed to account for the formation of sulphur springs. The decom- 

 position of iron pyrites, often assigned as a cause, was objected to on the 

 ground that it was not sufficiently general — that it did not meet those 

 cases in which these springs are found in the older rocks — that from what 

 is known concerning the decomposition of iron pyrites, it seems to be in- 



