Geology and Mineralogy of a part of Massachusetts, &c. 51 
Var 2. Indurated Taic. 
In the limestone near Williams College, from half an 
inch to three inches thick——brown or gray. 
Subsp. Steatite. 
Var. Common Steatite and Potstone. 
These two varieties are associated in a large bed at 
Middlefield, two miles east of the-meeting-house. It has 
been extensively quarried for building, and transported to 
Boston and other places under the name of freestone. It 
resists the action of fire, when applied against the sides of 
the lamina. Occurs in layers a few feet in thickness, 
which were sawed into convenient blocks for transporta- 
tion. It has been removed froin one place for some rods 
in length, and from a few to fifteen or twenty feet in depth. 
The potstone is only a finer variety, and generally darker 
colored. Both varieties were common in the fireplaces in 
Boston. In Windsor is a locality of fine steatite. It was 
formerly wrought into inkstands, and the Shakers now 
manufacture the same article from the same material. In 
Worthington also. 
An examination of the steatite shows the propriety of 
making it a subsp. of talc,--it is so closely composed of 
scales of talc, closely compacted, when compared with fo- 
liated talc of the common variety. 
In Lee, a part of an Indian pot, formed of Steatite, was 
found a few years since, having upon it one of the ears 
which supported it. Some of the steatite is fibrous. 
Crystallized Steatite. 
In Middlefield two miles S. of the meeting-house be- 
tween layers of the Serpentine. See Am. Journ. Vol. V, . 
p- 289, Vol. VI. p. 334. This isarare mineral. The crys- 
tals project into a layer of fibrous talc or ligniform asbes- 
tus, which lies down closely upon the mass on which they 
are formed. 
