Geology and Mineralogy of a part of Massachusetts, §c. 27 
Inclination of the strata, general direction, &c. 
The inclination of the strata is towards the east, vary- 
ing-between 15° and 70°. The same rock appears to be 
more inclined at one place than another, probably owing 
to some cause which may not have affected the inclina- 
tion at a great depth. The inclination is different, how- 
ever, from what is to be expecied from the language of 
geologists. For the more elevated parts of the primitive 
range are at the east, and yet the lower rocks dip under 
the higher; that is, the argillite of the Hudsonseems to dip 
under the gray wacke east of it; the gray wacke, under 
the transition limestone ; and this, under the primitive ar- 
gillite; and in Berkshire county; the mica-slate dips under 
the primitive limestone ; and this, under the mica-slate 
east of it, and so on, till the highest mica-slate inclines as 
if it must dip under some other primitive rocks still farther 
east. The mica-slate becomes more inclined at the east, 
and in Chester some of its strata are almost perpendicu- 
lar. It is in these nearly perpendicular strata, that veins, 
or layers of granite occur, of the same inclination. Does 
not this inclination mark the geological summit of the mi- 
ca-slate, though it is at a less elevation than the mica-slate 
upon the hills a little west of this? : 
Dr. E. Emmons, of Chester, from whom I have received 
many valuable remarks on the rocks, has observed that the 
inclination of the mica-slate in Norwich, on the east of 
Chester, is towards the west. An examination of the rocks 
north and south of this place, with particular reference to 
this point, is very desirable. It may be, however, that 
the mica-slate of this section belongs to the granitic range 
farther east, the valley of Connecticut River, with its in- 
teresting minerals, being iuterposed between, and thus ap- 
parently separating rocks. which are actually connected 
beneath its surface. The inclination of the strata in Mr. 
Hitchcock’s paper, seems to favor this hypothesis. 
I have observed only a very few even apparent excep- 
tions to this inclination to the east. One is in the granu- 
lar limestone at the N. W. base of Saddle Mt. The in- 
clination of some of the limestone is to the west; of some, 
nearly perpendicular; while that of the greater part is to 
the east. 
